Calamity of Tomorrow

People's minds and concepts tend to undergo uncontrollable changes with the varying of their own abilities and external environments.

After long holding the power of the Celestial Nine Calamities, Zhou Bai's understanding of humanity, society, and companions also subtly transformed.

Especially since the power of the Celestial Nine Calamities is so terrifying, twisted, and dark, it can easily lead someone astray. A mere slip could result in indulging in the swiftly growing power and effortless abilities.

But truly viewing humans as materials for leveling up, as crops to be harvested, and seeing companions as dispensable—these are all things Zhou Bai did not wish to become.

How to not lose oneself, not be perplexed, not misuse power, and maintain one's integrity under the power of the Celestial Nine Calamities had always been what Zhou Bai was striving to do.

'I've done so much this and that, all sorts of things, but I know I am a good guy.'

Feeling the restlessness in his heart had settled a great deal, Zhou Bai let out a sigh of relief, understanding he had once again defeated the darkness within, not becoming a puppet to power.

He looked at his palm and said, "It is I who control the darkness, not the darkness that controls me."

Christina hastily licked her fur to calm herself down and quickly felt Zhou Bai's aura grow warm again, "You really scared me just now."

Elsa nodded, "Mhm mhm, scared me too."

Annoyed, Christina smacked Elsa on the head with a paw, "Don't mimic my speech. Did you remember what I asked you to remember? There were so many key points just now!"

Turning her head, Elsa began to take notes with a bill, muttering under her breath, "Always yelling at me. Dogs really have no status at home, I don't want to be a dog anymore."

In the Material World, watching Shi Fa's body slowly collapse to the ground, Zhou Bai crouched down, and his Primordial Spirit power swept over the other's body.

'What on earth is this?'

With a slight flick of his Primordial Spirit power, Zhou Bai peeled off the thin layer of nanosuit that clung to Shi Fa's body.

After being destroyed by Zhou Bai, it immediately revealed itself, resembling a layer of silvery-gray skin wrapped around Shi Fa's body.

Now holding the nanosuit in hand, Zhou Bai instantly recognized the unique nature of this nanosuit.

Curious, Christina asked, "What's this? Armor of the Ninth Realm? No, the Heavenly Demon wouldn't know the humans' Artifact Refining methods, so is this armor from the Heavenly Demon? It's got strong defensive power. Did you see that, Zhou Bai?"

Zhou Bai nodded, his expression grave, "This thing could sell for 1.5 million laziness points."

Zhou Bai really wanted to sell it. He checked his Auxiliary Cultivation System panel, where only 7.5 million laziness points remained. The two uses of Genesis Galaxy Collapse, along with various healings, had cost him nearly a million laziness points.

He could only shake his head and swallow the bitterness, "This time directly cost me a million laziness points. Showing off is indeed expensive."

At that moment, the Emperor Sword shook in the sky and communicated with Zhou Bai, "Why are you stripping a dead person of their clothes after winning? Return the clothes to them."

Zhou Bai transmitted back, "You don't know squat. If I'm not wrong, this should be a Heavenly Demon's weapon. I need to turn it over for investigation into Shi Fa's collusion with the Heavenly Demons. It might be too late, but whatever can be found is good, even if it just eliminates one more Heavenly Demon traitor."

"A Heavenly Demon's weapon?" the Emperor Sword was surprised but hesitated, "Are you still going to continue fighting in the Daluo Heaven debates?"

Seeing Zhou Bai didn't reply, she added, "Why insist on continuing to fight? Even if you don't win first place, I can still leave with you. You don't need to come in first to claim me..."

"Shut up." Zhou Bai turned his head, glaring fiercely at the Emperor Sword, "You're... Chuzhi, right? I'll tell you, I've been preparing for so long, spent so much time and energy, sacrificed so many people, all to win these Daluo Heaven debates, to let all of humankind know that not only the Heavenly Court has a say. Humans can stand up for themselves too."

"Now, you just wait there nicely. Don't go anywhere until after I win first place and then I'll pull you out."

Chuzhi remarked, "What a domineering kid. You're going to fight Wei Cangsheng tomorrow, right?"

"He's... really troublesome... Are you sure you want to fight? Why are you so stubborn?"

Zhou Bai glanced at her, "Speak up if you have something to say, or else I'm leaving."

Chuzhi hesitated, "That... that... Wei Cangsheng is no ordinary guy... Damn, you're leaving that quickly?"

"That brat is really full of himself!"

Carrying the nanosuit, Zhou Bai walked out of the Daluo Heaven debates to be met with a stadium of astonished cries and a multitude of shocked expressions.

Even those Immortals who used to look down on Zhou Bai the most and disliked him the most were watching his battles one after another. Witnessing Zhou Bai's increasingly terrifying strength, despite their dislike towards him, they had to acknowledge his capabilities.

"Though I dislike him, he really has the strength deserving to win the debates."

"Regardless of background and personality, his strength is truly formidable."

"The Immortals all lost, but there's nothing to say about it... Indeed, they couldn't beat it, the gap was too far, they weren't even on the same level."

"The four great sects can also cultivate such disciples?"

With Zhou Bai's performance and showing off time after time, the entire arena... or rather, the more than a billion humans slowly began to feel that Zhou Bai was truly worthy of his reputation, and his strength was indeed sufficient to claim the top spot in the Dao Discussion, his fame and prestige surged like the tide, and his influence in human society would continue to grow.

His words and actions were both changing and about to change the human world.

Christina relaxed and said, "Zhou Bai! Spending those million points of laziness was worth it, just look at their shocked little eyes, so satisfying! Truly satisfying!"

Zhou Bai curled his lip, "It's not you who earns the laziness points, of course, you'd think any expense was worth it."

...

Disappointment flashed across Xiang Haocu's face: 'Even this isn't working? Could it be that Zhou Bai is truly a son of fortune?' He recalled the astonishing physical strength Zhou Bai had just displayed, feeling even more that Zhou Bai was unfathomably deep, especially with the final burst attack of the Genesis Star River Annihilation, even though Xiang Haocu didn't know what that move was, he could still feel the terror in it.

Zhou Bai's performance had broken his knowledge again and again, and by now, he wasn't even sure if that was Zhou Bai's limit.

"His physical body is even more formidable than a Level Nine armor. The final two explosive moves directly broke through the Dragon Elephant Kasaya. Even his speed, when he picks it up, is not much slower than mine."

"It's no longer possible to defeat him relying on human power."

He clenched his fists, bowing his head, "As expected, I can only follow Father's plan. The Sky Flipping Sect will have to wait, Zhou Bai is the most important matter."

Zhao Yue stood dumbly by Xiang Haocu's side, looking at the projection of Zhou Bai: 'Did he really... win? What's next...'

She looked at the upcoming schedule, murmuring, "Tomorrow is the match against Wei Cangsheng, the day after is Jue Ji. If he can win them both, Zhou Bai will be able to take first place in the Daluo Heaven Dao Discussion."

On the other side, Tu Tianmo, feeling a chill after watching Zhou Bai's last two moves, thought, "Thank goodness I surrendered early when I fought him, instead of stubbornly holding out. Can humans really cultivate to this extent? Zhou Bai is only at the fourth realm, if he reached the ninth realm, would he be comparable to an Immortal..."

Thinking this, Tu Tianmo quickly shook his head, "What am I thinking?" But it was as if a seed had been planted in his heart, and he couldn't help but think about that possibility.

...

In the stands, Ying Hui couldn't help but chuckle at the outcome of the match: 'I've made a fortune, really hit the jackpot. This kid Zhou Bai, I haven't groomed you for nothing.'

'Just two more matches and Zhou Bai will get the first place of Daluo Heaven, my fortune hinges on this.'

Yun Chonghe looked at the endlessly snickering Ying Hui and frowned, 'With only two matches left, whether it's an Immortal or a true deity, they will make their move in these two matches.'

Zheng Wentian breathed a sigh of relief after watching Shi Fa's match with Zhou Bai, increasingly glad that he hadn't forcibly competed for the top ten.

'This Daluo Heaven Dao Discussion is simply too brutal. The battles I've been through before... are nothing compared to theirs, it's like child's play.'

Feeling the brutality of the Dao Discussion and sensing the fear in his heart, Zheng Wentian felt a bit ashamed.

But watching Zhou Bai fight in the arena, he seemed to draw inspiration; a sense of passion gradually welled up inside him.

'Maybe I should also go to the Heavenly Demon Battlefield to truly temper myself.'

...

On the other side, as Zhou Bai walked out of Daluo Heaven's space-time, staff immediately rushed up, seeing the plasma heatflow still burning on Zhou Bai's head, they spoke with concern and alarm, "Contestant Zhou Bai, are you alright?"

"Do you need to receive treatment?"

Normally, if someone's head got scorched by such intense heat for so long, they'd likely be gone, no emergency treatment needed.

But if Zhou Bai said he needed treatment... He looked active and spirited, certainly not like someone who needed treatment.

Zhou Bai waved his hand, "It's nothing, just a bit of residual heat, it'll go out on its own in a bit."

The staff then looked at the nano-suit in Zhou Bai's hand, which looked like it had been peeled off Shi Fa's body.

They looked at Zhou Bai, seemingly hesitant to speak, as if they didn't want Zhou Bai to take this remnant of Shi Fa away.

Just then, Zhou Bai felt a vast, gentle, and majestic power envelop him.

The kind voice of Tu Gui Shen came through, "Zhou Bai, what are you holding? May I take a look?"