Calamity of Tomorrow

Tu Tianmo looked at the manual for activating the demonic bloodline in his hand, his thoughts were endless; he seemed to have thought of many things in an instant.

According to the Sky Flipping Sect's assertion, nearly all humans nowadays are hybrids of humans and demons, even the divine beings are the same.

This is also why the heavens view humans with hostility, limiting and oppressing humanity.

And for humans to take back their rights and interests, they need to activate the demonic bloodline, possessing the power to contend with the Heavenly Demons and the heavens.

Likewise, for humans to survive in a world where the Heavenly Dao is becoming more and more distorted and to fight against this aberration, they also need the power of the demonic bloodline.

"The tragedy of the weak," he sighed inwardly, "In this world, even a weakling's right to live is subject to the whim of the strong. My life has never been in my own hands."

He gripped the pamphlet tighter: "But is activating the demonic bloodline really useful?"

In Tu Tianmo's heart, if activating the demonic bloodline could really turn him into a being as powerful as the divine, he would not hesitate for a second and would directly choose to activate it.

But he found it difficult to trust the Sky Flipping Sect.

Can it really make me stronger?

Are there no side effects?

What would the heavens do if they found out?

And just how powerful are the demons anyway?

The last great war between humans and demons had passed five hundred years ago, and following that, the human race had gone through a brutal war with the Heavenly Demons, and 120 years ago, they had faced the horror of the distorted Heavenly Dao, leaving only five main cities on the vast planet.

Much of the terror humans held for the demons had been forgotten, a lot forgotten.

Even most ordinary people were not clear about the specific definition of demons, and among the few cultivators aware of the demons' existence, they only knew of a historical period five hundred years ago when humanity ended the great war and exterminated demons.

At this moment, Tu Tianmo was equally unclear and ignorant about the power of demons.

His thoughts then turned to the current state of the Sky Flipping Sect; the ten immortals in West Mountain City hadn't taken action yet, merely sending out celestial cultivators to hunt down the sect.

There had been a chaotic battle on the northwestern front, with the Sky Flipping Sect generally in retreat and scattered in flight.

The current situation is that the celestial cultivators relentlessly pursued and slaughtered the members of the Sky Flipping Sect.

This indicated that the Sky Flipping Sect had no confidence in contending with the immortals.

'If this technique could indeed empower humans to fight against the immortals, why would the Sky Flipping Sect be in such a predicament now? And why bother with stealing and studying aberrant weapons?'

All these doubts made Tu Tianmo decide not to follow the instructions in the pamphlet.

"Let's just observe how things unfold and see what decision the heavens will make," Tu Tianmo thought. "With the Sky Flipping Sect stirring up so much trouble, the heavens will surely not sit idly by."

With this thought, Tu Tianmo quelled the impulse in his heart, then his Primordial Spirit power erupted, tearing up the booklet in his hand, hiding the scraps in every corner of the room to piece together later as needed.

He then sat cross-legged in mid-air, inhaling and exhaling, Primordial Spirit circulating with each breath, Tu Tianmo had begun his breathing meditation.

'Without extraordinary talent, without defying fate, a cultivator like me can only engage in arduous cultivation, suffering great hardships for a mere sliver of strength increase. Perhaps someone like Zhou Bai could defeat me in a single move.'

'But what other choice do I have?'

Tu Tianmo sighed, gradually calming his mind, immersing his consciousness in the refining process of absorbing and strengthening his Primordial Spirit, bit by bit.

Three hours later, a woman's voice came, "Tu Tianmo, Marshal Xiang has called for us. Are you there?"

Tu Tianmo opened his eyes, which seemed to contain mountains, rivers, sun, and moon, even slightly shaking the furniture within the room.

'Si Yun is calling me? It must be about Sky Flipping Sect matters.'

With that thought, Tu Tianmo tidied up a bit before stepping out to see a young girl in a black robe, her face marked with black patterns, standing outside. She said, "Let's go, Tu Tianmo. Marshal Xiang has a mission for us."

After speaking, the girl turned and left, leaving her silhouette to Tu Tianmo.

"Si Yun... the daughter of Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch."

Tu Tianmo remembered how during the discussions in Daluo Heaven, she had faced Zhou Bai with her seventh realm 'Death Tide Soul Map' only to be knocked to the ground, failing to even make it to the top ten.

'Another pitiful weakling, weaker than even me.'

'I recall when I battled Zhou Bai in the top ten, even he had to admire my strength. I was declared the second strongest physical cultivator in the Daluo Heaven discussions.'

Watching Si Yun's retreating figure, Tu Tianmo asked, "Weren't you following the Thunder Department's cultivators to the frontlines to exterminate the Sky Flipping Sect? Why are you back now?"

Si Yun dismissively said, "Those Sky Flipping Sect dogs scattered like mice when we defeated them. The forces of the Thunder Department are now clearing the battlefield, pursuing the survivors."

'It's going that smoothly?' Tu Tianmo inquired, "And what about Sky Flipping Sect Leader Li Xiuzhu? Have you caught him?"

Si Yun spoke bitterly, "That demon is very crafty and has hidden himself deeply; he hasn't revealed himself even now. However, now that the Thunder Department's army is sweeping the entire northwest frontline, they're bound to catch him."

On the way with Si Yun, they arrived at another great hall and saw Xiang Tiandi's son, Xiang Haocu, already waiting there. He nodded at their arrival, a form of greeting.

Next to Xiang Haocu stood Zhao Yue of the Zhao Family from Central City, also standing in the great hall at this moment.

Xiang Haocu's face was sullen, his mind full of the recent doings of the Sky Flipping Sect.

"The lunatics of the Sky Flipping Sect, in their pursuit of survival, have dragged all of humanity down with them."

Xiang Haocu had known since the period of discussing the Dao in Daluo Heaven that the human race under heaven had all become mixed with demon blood.

Furthermore, he had followed Xiang Tiandi's orders to go to the Zhao Family, whose entire clan offered their Primordial Spirits to Zhao Yue's Eight Desolates Supreme Robe, in order to kill Zhou Bai, a pure-blooded human.

In Xiang Haocu's view, the present-day relationship between humanity and the Heavenly Dao was like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.

And once humanity truly became enemies with the Heavenly Dao, it would inevitably be those of the present-day human race who suffered the most. Not only would many die, it would lead to an even further decline in the status of humankind.

Therefore, he had always wanted to strive to maintain a fragile balance between the two parties.

In his view, the Sky Flipping Sect's actions were like lighting the fuse of that powder keg.

'Immortals harbor reservations towards the demon-mixed human race of today. Once humans start to awaken their demon bloodlines, they will likely immediately face fierce suppression from the Heavenly Dao.'

Xiang Haocu sighed deeply, unsure of what to do.

At that moment, surging Primordial Spirit force descended from the heavens, and tiny threads of lightning flitted through the air, causing everyone in the hall to bristle.

Xiang Haocu looked up to see Xiang Tiandi, Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch, and Tu Tianmo standing above the great hall looking at them.

Xiang Tiandi said to them, "You are aware of the recent actions of the Sky Flipping Sect, spreading heretical teachings that bewitch the masses. Once spread, cultivators are at great risk of mutation.

This act is the Sky Flipping Sect's death throes, yet it threatens the safety of the entire human race. The reason we've called the three of you here today is to put you in charge of overseeing the eradication of the Sky Flipping Sect in West Mountain City..."

All relevant materials are to be confiscated and then burned. All involved persons are to be arrested and tried by the Heavenly Dao. From civilians to Nine Realm cultivators, an exhaustive investigation must be conducted, with Xiang Tiandi, Tu Tianmo, and the Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch supporting them.

That was the order that Tu Tianmo summarized after listening, and he thought to himself, "Spreading heretical teachings, causing mutations, huh?"

Si Yun angrily said, "The Sky Flipping Sect, in order to extend its influence, does not hesitate to spread mutant heretical teachings, which is truly hateful. I will catch them all and cleanse West Mountain City of the Sky Flipping Sect."

Next to him, Xiang Haocu and Zhao Yue's expressions were indifferent, but they remained silent.

After the four left, the girl-like Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch swung her right foot, the tinkling of a bell following, and smilingly said, "Xiang Tiandi, do Xiang Haocu and Zhao Yue know about humans carrying demon blood?"

Xiang Tiandi coldly responded, "They will not be a problem."

"Hehehe," the Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch said with mirth, "Seeing you is like seeing my past self, still too sentimental. When I created my first child, I doted on her like any mother would, treated her well, personally guided her cultivation, taught her martial arts and Daoist arts hand-in-hand, gave her all the best things, and raised her until she was one thousand two hundred years old, only to watch her as her days ended, her cultivation dissipated, and her Primordial Spirit shattered."

"When I created my hundredth child, I no longer personally taught them, but left the task to my other children and disciples."

"When the thousandth child came along, I didn't even bother to remember their names or appearances."

"Now, only those children who are somewhat pleasing to my eyes get a bit of indulgence from me."

The Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch advised, "Xiang Tiandi, you consider your wife and children important now, but in the long life ahead, they are but passing strangers. In a few thousand years, even their faces will have faded from memory."

"Compared to that, every bit of increased strength is the true reality that never leaves, always staying by your side, shielding you from wind and rain."

"Emotions, family; these are things that only the weak need. Why not let go of your attachment?"

After hearing this, Xiang Tiandi simply said, "We'll talk about matters of a few thousand years later in a few thousand years."

Listening to their conversation, Tu Tianmo thought to himself, "Two old fellows... This topic... At just four hundred years old, I really can't join in."

Tu Tianmo said, "The actions of the Sky Flipping Sect this time are indeed deranged. Once a large number of demons awaken among humans, these demons will consume humans, breed, lead even more mixed bloods to awaken as demons, and it will be another great calamity between heaven and earth, perhaps even sparking another great war between humans and demons."

Hearing Tu Tianmo's words, the Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch and Xiang Tiandi also looked solemn.

The Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch said with an ambiguous tone, "Yes, if the situation deteriorates, and demons resurface, it will be another great war between humans and demons."

Xiang Tiandi nodded, "If that happens, the Heavenly Dao will face the forces of both Heavenly Demon and demons. We absolutely cannot let this happen. The cultivators within the city have already taken action, but if there truly are awakened demons with great strength, we must intervene."

Tu Tianmo: "That is what should be done."

Xiang Tiandi: "Then let it be so."

Tu Tianmo nodded, and in the next instant, his figure vanished.

Xiang Tiandi and the Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch, however, did not leave immediately. Their Primordial Spirit forces collided, seemingly transmitting invisible information to each other.

Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch said, "Although they are all of the same species, waking them up would only lead to an uncontrollable situation." She seemed to heave a sigh, "Demons, after all, are not the favored ones of Heavenly Dao's destiny and would only trigger endless wars between humans and demons. It's better to clean them up as soon as possible."

"We are gods now."

Having said that, she took a deep look at Xiang Tiandi, her gaze seemingly containing a hint of warning.

Xiang Tiandi replied, "Don't worry, I won't let personal feelings interfere with such important matters."

"That's good." After Plague Department Si Yi Heavenly Monarch finished speaking, her figure suddenly shattered and dissipated into the air.

The form of Xiang Tiandi also vanished, turning into an invisible force of Primordial Spirit and swiftly departing.

These three were all incarnations formed by the power of Primordial Spirits, with their true bodies comprehending the Supreme Wee Nine Heavens calculations in secret chambers.

All over West Mountain City, a large-scale sweep for members of the Sky Flipping Sect within the city quickly began.

Among the four in charge, Si Yun was the most heavy-handed. Over the next few days, he personally led the team to capture anyone related to the Sky Flipping Sect.

...

In the basement, heads were crowded together.

One by one, people with gaunt figures and gloomy faces squeezed together.

Beneath their robes, one could occasionally see severed limbs, disabilities, and even scales and lush fur.

In their midst, a middle-aged woman said, "Everyone, we are here today to fight for our future and the future of humanity. The Heavenly Court sees us as slaves, and the Heavenly Demons want to slaughter us all. Only we can save ourselves."

As she spoke, she looked toward an old man and said, "Old Wei, please talk to us."

The one called Old Wei had white hair and beard, but he looked vigorous, with bright and shining eyes, and a face full of flesh without many wrinkles, resembling a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.

He addressed the crowd, "My name is Wei Yong. Some here may know me. I was a teacher at the West Mountain Daoist School, a cultivator of the fifth realm. I've been to the battlefield, I've fought against the Heavenly Demons."

"But I contracted a contaminated spiritual machine on the battlefield and was at risk of mutation."

"Heavenly Court and West Mountain City discarded me like trash. They told me mutation was incurable, said my condition would fully mutate in a year or two, and insisted that more resources needed to be devoted elsewhere, to fight against the Heavenly Demons."

"It wasn't until I encountered the Sky Flipping Sect, met Teacher He..." Old Wei looked at the middle-aged woman and continued, "She taught me the Heavenly Demon Ten Techniques, which allowed me to awaken powers that were originally mine."

As he spoke, his body slowly swelled, with his mouth and nose protruding intensely and black beastly fur growing all over his body. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a standing beastman.

"Now, I possess the power of demons. My combat strength has long exceeded that of a fifth realm cultivator, and it's been ten years since my spiritual machine was contaminated."

Upon hearing his words, a small commotion stirred among the people around him.

The middle-aged woman said, "Heavenly Dao has become twisted, spiritual machinery contaminated. In this era, even if we stay well within the city, we are at risk of accidental twists leading to mutation. Using the Heavenly Demon Ten Techniques to counteract the distortion and mutation allows more people to survive!"

"Outside there is a vast world. As long as we can fight mutation, we can leave West Mountain City and no longer need to endure the oppression of Heavenly Court. We can live free, self-sufficient lives."

Eyes brightened among the people surrounding her, as hope began to sparkle in their eyes.

But in the next moment, accompanied by a thunderous boom, countless Beast Souls broke through the walls, and Si Yun controlled the Death Tide Soul Map, arriving on the scene directly, "Take them all into custody."

Panicked, the crowd immediately saw some transform into demons to resist, only to be crushed by the manipulation of Si Yun, who dispatched each Beast Soul with a single palm.

"To purge demons and heretics is everyone's duty."

Looking at these creatures turned monstrous, Si Yun's eyes showed a hint of disgust, "Kill all these mutated monsters and take them away, detain the rest, and leave not a single paper in the room."

Cultivators stepped forward to execute the demonized on the spot, then taking them away.

A young man, looking at Si Yun, screamed in madness, "They are not mutated! They are resisting mutation by activating their demonic bloodlines!"

Holding his face, he wept and laughed, "Why do you leave us no way out? I just don't want to mutate... I don't want to become mad..."

As tentacles drilled out of the young man's forehead, Si Yun frowned, "He's mutated."

With a single palm, she killed the young man, her chilly gaze sweeping around, "See? This is the consequence of believing in the Sky Flipping Sect's heretical methods. If you correct your ways and submit to Heavenly Court now, you might have a chance to live normal lives in the future."

...

Back in her office and looking at so many people captured, Si Yun slammed her palm on the desk, shattering the whole table, "The Sky Flipping Sect is truly insane."

Recalling the scenes she had witnessed these days, the many who stubbornly refused to surrender, those deluded, and those turned into monsters, a deep weariness flashed through Si Yun's eyes.

She simply could not understand why the Sky Flipping Sect had such a strong ability to bewitch people, why there were so many who believed in it, even willing to turn themselves into monsters.

Just then, a loud noise erupted, and amidst screams, Si Yun instantly sprang up, rushing towards the place where prisoners were held.

There she saw the prison cell covered in blood, with various severed limbs and mutilated bodies strewn about as if torn by wild beasts.

A man over two meters tall, with a fierce lion's face, was crawling on the ground, his mouth full of blood as he looked at the dead bodies and muttered, "I didn't want to eat them... I didn't mean to eat them... But I'm so hungry... really so hungry..."

Bang!

Si Yun slammed her palm down, shattering the monster's head, barely holding back a roar, "You fools! Why did you believe such lies? Mutation is beyond redemption!"

She strode out of the cell and glanced at the differently expressive faces in other cells, saying word by word, "I started studying the Dao scriptures at the age of five, and officially began cultivating the Dao at fifteen. I've seen too many classmates, brothers, sisters, and teachers head towards mutation during their cultivation."

"How many of them had wills forged through a thousand trials and an incredibly strong Dao heart? Yet they all mutated!"

"Do you really think that Sky Flipping Sect merely passed down a cultivation technique to you and you could withstand the power that we cultivated with the risk of life and death for decades, or even centuries?"

After furiously shouting at the prisoners, Si Yun finally left, leaving other cultivators to clean up the mess.

Xiang Haocu, who came by, saw this and said, "Take a rest. I'll examine this batch of people."

She was indeed very trusting of Xiang Haocu, the son of Marshal Xiang Tiandi, and nodded in response, "Thank you for your effort."

After Si Yun left, Xiang Haocu sat at his office desk, looking at the interrogation room in the distance as prisoners were brought in one by one for interrogation, searching for any traces of the Sky Flipping Sect.

"Why did you join the Sky Flipping Sect?"

A frail middle-aged man said, "I... I was working in the Array layers, and one day my work clothes weren't stored properly. My son played with them, became contaminated with a polluted spiritual mechanism, and was about to mutate. People from the Sky Flipping Sect said that as long as demonic bloodlines are stimulated, they could resist mutation."

A teenager who looked only fourteen or fifteen said, "Teachers at the Dao School die every year, and Heavenly Court keeps reducing the supplies it sends to Dao School. This year, West Mountain City Dao School only admitted two hundred students! I wanted to cultivate, I wanted to become strong! I wanted to go to the front lines to kill Heavenly Demons, I never planned on joining the Sky Flipping Sect. My plan was to learn their cultivation technique and then run away..."

An angry elderly man said, "Demonic bloodline really can resist mutation and distortion. Once the demonic bloodline is stimulated, all of humanity's strength will be elevated, and more people can survive! Even the students at the Dao Schools are barely getting enough to eat now, continuing like this will only lead to a slow death! You're stifling humanity's future!"

A little girl who looked about ten years old said, "Daddy... Daddy brought me here. He said from now on... from now on we could be full without having to go to the factory."

A middle-aged man nearby said, "People from the Sky Flipping Sect said that after activating the demonic bloodline, you can live in the wilderness, live freely and be self-sufficient..."

...

Watching each prisoner being interrogated, Xiang Haocu, without turning his head, said, "Any thoughts?"

Zhao Yue, who had been standing behind Xiang Haocu for a long time, replied slowly, "What shall we do?"

"There is indeed a demand among humans for activating demonic bloodlines. Although it could get out of control and might lead to madness, many civilians will still flock to it."

"But it's definitely a cure worse than the disease. Once the number of humans with activated demonic bloodlines reaches a certain point, the immortals will inevitably take matters into their own hands to start a great purge, and humanity will face an extreme catastrophe."

"Moreover, with the Divine Emperor comprehending the Heavenly Dao, the immortals already have a way to restore their cultivation faster, and the gap between the two sides will continue to widen."

"On another front, with Heavenly Demons watching us covetously, do you think they will sit idly by when a great war between humans and demons breaks out again? More people will die then."

"I will never allow such a thing to happen."

Zhao Yue looked at the little girl in the interrogation room with a complex expression and muttered, "They... only want to survive."

Xiang Haocu sighed, "We also just want to survive."

And on the rooftop of the office, Tu Tianmo looked at the night view of West Mountain City, his mind filled with myriad thoughts, "If we weren't really too weak, who would want to live like this?"

...

A few days later, in the Forbidden Land beneath the Three Pure Dao Sect in East China City,

Zhou Bai's eyes opened, and the air around him seemed to tremble slightly, with a snap-crackle-pop sound as if countless tiny explosions were happening within.

In one of Zhou Bai's eyes, a black giant dragon circled around the eyeball, occasionally breathing out black flames.

In his other eye, it seemed like billions of stars were exploding, emitting endless light and heat.

"The Great Black Flame Fire Dragon Formation and the Supreme Mysterious Divine Thunder Breath are finally mastered."

After slowly closing his practice, Zhou Bai exhaled a breath, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

The Dark Lady hurried over, asking with concern, "Zhou Bai! Did you succeed?"

Zhou Bai nodded, but suddenly covered his right eye and inadvertently furrowed his brows.

"What's wrong?" asked the Dark Lady with concern.

"Nothing." Zhou Bai waved his hand, indicating that it was nothing, and the red light in his right eye under his palm slowly dissipated.

He thought to himself, "The urge to slay demons is acting up again. I hope Heavenly Court sends more demons for me to kill this time."

----

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