The smoke cleared, and the Water Deer made its entrance.

Its entire body exuded an aura of tranquility, as if a myriad of colorful lights were flowing, radiating a holy beauty.

"Indeed, we should cease all actions."

Phoenix Yi looked at the elegant Water Deer before them and said with an emotionless and indifferent tone, "The calamitous tribulation has arrived, and it seems there is simply no time left for us to mature. I believe we must leave this creature behind now."

Although their emotions told them: they didn't want to fight such a disgusting thing.

But their rationality told them: they must not let this creature grow any further.

If it grows further, it would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountain.

These ancient Ancestor Demon Gods have just awakened; whether it's their cultivation techniques, moves, or divine techniques, none are complete. Even with just the most basic application of divine techniques, they are already fearsome giants with only raw energy.

What happens when their cultivation techniques are complete?

If the tiger is released back to its mountain and returns again, they will not face a simpleton who relies on brute force but a group of super monsters proficient in combat techniques and have reached the pinnacle in various aspects.

Their combat power might increase over tenfold.

This is not something they can bear.

Cursed said coldly, "We're merely competing over victory and territory, but now it appears this battle is meaningless. Right now, we must truly ponder how to deal with this 'old tomb'. If we fail, the powerhouses of Nine-States may face no tomorrow."

No tomorrow?

Listening to the words of the two leaders, those present looked at each other in dismay.

What kind of character is Cursed? The ruler of the Neutral Nursery governing countless Embers and Ghost Kings, the supreme emperor of the Ghost Country, and in every generation throughout history, the Human Emperors of Central Plains' Nine-States have revered the shadows of his nursery's influence.

He can be called the King of Death, sharing the world equally with the living.

Yet, this widely recognized super monster in history actually claims that this battle will decide whether they have a tomorrow?

Apocalypse.

This sudden, heavy term directly gripped their hearts tightly.

It came too fast and too unbelievably.

None were ready for a decisive battle today, nor had they developed their combat power to its fullest form.

Most of them hadn't yet completed their Immortal Path Foundation, still hesitating on which spiritual root to complete it with or what path besides the Ghost King to perfect their immortal base.

Now they are suddenly told the apocalypse has arrived, and they must decide victory and defeat this moment!

"How could it be so quick?!"

"Are they insane?"

"Why not let him go back? This is merely our first encounter, just a little probe. Why risk everything?"

"Indeed, if we lose, the cost is too high for us to bear!"

"I haven't yet completed my immortal spirit root, so there's no way I can contribute combat power to this battle. Just wait, I'm sure most of the powerhouses are like this."

"Damn it! Had I known, even with severe side effects, I would've used the Human Ancestor's mad method to forcibly seize several pseudo-human spiritual roots and step into the Immortal Sect."

A profound sense of fear began to envelop them.

They regretted it.

They were like Ning Zheng, part of the waiting party. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Waiting for Xin Xichen to unveil the new cultivation techniques, waiting for the pioneers to explore and maturely develop the various attributes and abilities of the immortal spirit root nurturing methods.

But now, just in this early stage of observation and development, they must begin the decisive battle.

They were internally resisting fiercely.

Why should they decide in battle? If they go back and grow rapidly, then they too will grow rapidly. Given more time, the number of Self-Transformation Realm experts who break through into Immortal Spirit Root will increase more than tenfold!

"Do we really have to fight?"

"We should stabilize ourselves first."

The fearful voices of some powerhouses spread.

In fact.

The two leaders had misjudged.

Releasing the tiger back to the mountain was actually a good thing.

Because now was the blacksmiths' moment of peak glory; they appeared strong but were fragile inside, and no matter how much time passes, they cannot develop their cultivation techniques or moves.

Yet, how could they have predicted that a group of "ancient" wise Ancestor Gods would be such cultivation wasters?

Deciding on a battle now perfectly played into the hands of the blacksmiths!

Otherwise, if Phoenix Yi and these leaders developed for another period, these big fools would truly be finished.

"This is the cruel reality, not some dreamy fairy tale."

Just then, a gleam appeared in the sky, and Xin Xichen appeared before everyone:

"No one knows whether the future or the apocalypse arrives first. Don't really think that a so-called decisive battle means both sides are thoroughly prepared, with plans and back-ups fully developed, dueling each other at peak battle strength, right?"

Everyone fell silent.

Killing them in the cradle is the best plan.

But currently, both sides are infants in the cradle? Two undeveloped babies fighting?

Conservatively estimated, once developed, they will at least be tens of times stronger than they are now.

This era is just beginning!

Just then.

"Really want to start fighting this strange guy?"

In the sky, a Self-Transformation Realm White Tiger descended stepping on clouds, "Honestly, on our Four Great Divine Beasts' side, none have broken through to immortal spirit root. We are not Ghost Kings; forcibly planting five-element spirit roots will cause trouble... it's very difficult for us to assist you."

Xin Xichen, the White Tiger Race, had both arrived, clearly indicating this was no longer a battle between two major forces but a massive vortex sweeping across the entire Nine-States.

"Have you all finished your idle chat?"

The Water Deer was surrounded by water vapor, and the patterns around its body resembled floating clouds, with clouds appearing at every step it took.

"My temper is not as irritable as Lei Gong. If you wish to continue discussing your strategies, I can wait a little longer."

With its high head raised gracefully, it resembled an elf descending from nature's immortal realm into the mortal world.

Xin Xichen turned his head with a smile, "Thank you for your patience. Then, ancient senior, let the battle begin."

"Very well!"

As the Water Deer's voice had just fallen, a sense of oppressive force descended suddenly, as if the previous thunderous storm carried some unique power.

"Most of the Nine-States and Four Seas are covered in rain. Did Lei Gong prepare the watery battlefield for it in advance?" An unprecedented feeling washed over everyone's hearts.

In the sky, a menacing crimson lightning ripped through the horizon, and countless dense water-ball eyeballs flickered between heaven and earth.

In a trance, it seemed like the raindrops falling from the sky turned into eyeballs!

The Water Deer Race, possessing an all-encompassing visual field of watery eyes.

"The endless raindrops have turned into infinite eyeballs; it's trying to use raindrop eyeballs to cover the entire world!"

Everyone felt a terrifying sensation enveloping their hearts, as if a massive pressure was brutally pressing against their eye sockets.

Pu chi!

They felt the pressure inside their eyes suddenly spike.

The eyeballs are highly water-containing organs.

Aqueous humor, lens, vitreous, making up more than two-thirds overall content.

Yet, the power of the Water Deer Race is not traditional water attribute but a specialized eye-water granting powers primarily over surveillance divine techniques.

At the next moment, water-light filled the sky!!

The Self-Transformation Realm cultivators on-site, Phoenix Yi, Cursed, Xin Xichen, all the mighty cultivators, their "eyes" were controlled by the Water Deer. In unison, their pupils flickered with an earth-shattering vision.

They saw the golden bronze statue, a myth resting on a throne.

"What's that!?"

"It's as if my eyes were possessed!"

"What's playing out in my eyes?"

Under the vast curtain of rain covering the Nine-States and Four Seas by Lei Gong, the twinkling water-light in the eyes of the Nine-States and Four Seas' inhabitants revealed a scene.

On the streets, in the alleys, everyone's vision was interfered with, a bronze mythical emperor upon a throne appeared on their retinas.