Calamity of Tomorrow

On the final day of the Daluo Heaven's Debate, at five in the morning.

Christina was rolling around in bed with a big smile on her face, "Hahaha, I have a scratching board now."

Beside her, Elsa whispered, "Tina, can I try using it?"

Christina immediately jumped up and exclaimed, "You're so clumsy, what if you break it? This is my treasure!"

Elsa looked at Christina enviously, then glanced at her own shabby belongings and said, "I also want a treasure."

While the pets were chatting, Zhou Bai sat upright on his bed, continually wondering if there was anything he hadn't prepared yet.

'Any issues with the equipment? I should check the status of the Red Heavenly Armor again…'

'Is my laziness level high enough, or should I sell some more items…'

'Elsa, let me see if you've packed everything we need in your belly…'

Even with Zhou Bai's temperament, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous as the moment approached.

After all, had prepared for this debate in Daluo Heaven for over half a year, expending immense effort and making great sacrifices along with his companions.

Whether it was the sacrifices made by Yan Hui, Zhao Shouyi, and others, or the Mutated Essence Blood squeezed out by the elders, the countless resources for cultivation provided by fellow Dao School associates from the past who had economized for his sake, and the opponents he had defeated or even killed, millions of people were expecting much from him.

All of this made Zhou Bai feel a weight of pressure, but also a flicker of hope.

At this moment, the victory of the Daluo Heaven's Debate wasn't just his alone anymore.

As Zhou Bai pondered what more he needed to prepare, a thin black line snuck through the door crack and crept toward his bed.

The next moment, amidst a crackling sound in the air, a powerful force swept toward it, grasping the black line and distorting the air as it pulled it towards him.

Zhou Bai looked at the small black snake caught in his hand, squinting slightly as his Primordial Spirit's power swept over the metal composition of the creature, and he frowned, saying, "Heavenly Demon?"

The mechanical voice of the black snake said, "Zhou Bai, I have come to find you without any hostility."

Zhou Bai smiled and responded, "Oh, I don't really have any deep hatred against the Heavenly Demons either, it's just that you always attack humans and I have to retaliate."

"If you have indeed gradually lost your urge to kill, I think we should find an opportunity to coexist peacefully."

"If you are willing, I can take you to negotiate with Heaven."

"Everything is negotiable. We can have a good talk and do business together. That is much better than waging war every day."

"I know you're not afraid of death, but constantly reconfiguring your bodies and sitting idle in the Heavenly Demon Pool must be quite unpleasant…"

The black snake couldn't help saying, "Enough, stop talking."

Zhou Bai tilted his head, observing the black snake while also glancing at the panel of his auxiliary cultivation system.

He thought to himself, 'My intelligence hasn't decreased, huh. Is it that you don't believe what I said, or… is this black snake merely a conduit, filtering and translating my words?'

The black snake spoke again, "Zhou Bai, there have been misunderstandings between us in the past because we did not know your true identity. The lower-ranked Heavenly Demons do not understand this, and even the Heavenly Demon Lords hadn't considered that possibility."

Zhou Bai frowned, "What are you trying to say?"

The black snake continued, "We... are kin. Zhou Bai, whether you believe it or not, we are the same kind. Those monsters and humans on the surface, they aren't truly on your side."

Zhou Bai snorted, "Are you trying to deceive me?"

The black snake said, "It won't be long before you understand that the enemies you have opposed might not be your real enemies, and those you consider companions might not be on your side either."

Zhou Bai said, "If you want to talk, then talk now. Say what you have to say, but don't play any tricks."

The black snake sighed, "We shall take it slow, for right now, you might not be able to accept it all, and your power within might even become uncontrollable."

"But it won't be long before you understand that we are on the same side."

"Before that, prepare yourself mentally and control the darkness within you."

As it spoke, the black figure dissolved into a cloud of black mist and dispersed into the air.

Zhou Bai looked at the spot where the Heavenly Demon disappeared, feeling utterly perplexed. He couldn't believe the words of an opponent he had fought against for nearly two years after just a brief conversation.

However, he couldn't shake off an unsettling feeling deep inside him.

Especially the part about controlling the darkness within made him recall his recent increase in contamination.

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and it was Zheng Wentian's voice, "Zhou Bai, let's go! It's time for breakfast."

Zhou Bai gestured with his hand, summoning Christina and Elsa into his mind: "Coming."

...

On the final morning of the Daluo Heaven's Debate, whether in the four major cities or in Central City, crowds surged onto the streets, waiting for the projection to start, anticipating the champion of Daluo Heaven's Debate.

In East Huacheng, Jing Xiu, Xia Li, and others stared towards the direction of the projection, their eyes filled with nerves and excitement.

Xia Li: "Do you think… Zhou Bai can make it?"

Jing Xiu: "Brother Zhou will definitely succeed. When has he ever let us down?"

Lin Muqing felt a bit worried, thinking, 'I just hope nothing interferes from the Celestial beings. But with the divination I gave Zhou Bai, he should be safe, right?'

Meanwhile, Lu Wanzhen thought to herself, 'I wonder how Qian Wangsun is doing?'

...

Nasha stood on the rooftop, watching the still empty projection that had yet to start.

Numerous pieces of information intersected within her.

"3 hours 2 minutes and 31 seconds until the operation begins."

"Should we keep Nasha?"

"Let's keep her for now. Zhou Bai is likely to return to the Dao School. If the operation fails, this might still be a fallback."

...

Jiaojiao slowly opened her eyes, glanced at Lv Chongyang next to her, and said, "Is it today, Zhou Bai's final contest?"

Lv Chongyang nodded and replied, "Great Elder, you should rest more. You were severely weakened last time, getting closer to complete mutation."

Jiaojiao's body slowly rose from the heap of flesh and blood, smiling and waving her hand, "How can I miss Zhou Bai's final contest. Whether he can gather the human race's fortune and obtain the Emperor's Sword depend on today."

"With his talents, once he becomes a child of fortune and receives divine assistance, his future achievements will be boundless."

"It's a pity I cannot witness this in person. I can't help them this time."

Lv Chongyang comforted her, "Don't worry, Great Elder. Zhou Bai and the others will surely succeed."