In the azure void, seven figures stood side by side.
Surging demonic qi swirled ceaselessly about them.
From time to time, skybugs drifted nearby. Fearless and reckless by nature, even these creatures grew remarkably lucid upon sensing the terrifying aura of these figures, hastily retreating into the distance.
At their head was a towering, muscular figure with a rhinoceros horn protruding from his brow.
He looked down into the boundless sea of clouds, as if able to pierce the vapors and behold that ancient, magnificent fortress sprawled across the earth, severing human and demon realms alike.
"Humans excel at formations. They link the great momentum of heaven and earth to wield boundless might."
"If we launch a frontal assault, the seven of us might not be able to break it."
"Therefore, when the time comes, everyone must strike together to tie down the surrounding formations, helping me shatter it in one fell blow!"
Commander Qi Xi's gaze swept across the six demons behind him. Four were temporarily assigned to his command, while the other two had been invited through personal ties.
"Chengguan, Luhao, attack the north gate and draw their attention for me!"
"Understood, Commander!"
"Wuguang, Youying, you excel at coordinated combination arts. The south gate is in your hands."
"Rest easy. We hear only a certain Perfected Xianhe guards the south gate. The two of us can break it at our leisure."
Then Commander Qi Xi turned his gaze upon the remaining two demons.
"The east gate is personally guarded by Qin Baixiang of the Hundred Beasts Sect. His cultivation is ordinary, but he is guarded by a fourth-tier spirit beast. I arranged an ambush with Anming, but that still won't be enough. Fellow Daoist Shechamo, I will have to trouble you to lend a hand shortly."
The Demon Emperor named Shechamo smiled and nodded, seeming unconcerned.
Indeed, he possessed the capital for such arrogance.
By the cultivation standards of humanity, his mid fourth-tier realm was equivalent to the mid Nascent Soul stage. Dealing with a cultivator of the same rank—and in a two-on-one fight no less—posed no problem at all.
As for that so-called fourth-tier spirit beast, he did not hold it in any regard whatsoever.
A demon beast tamed by humans had long lost its wild savagery and amounted to nothing!
As Commander Qi Xi's polite words fell upon his ears, Shechamo glanced warily toward the final member of their group.
Standing there alone, he measured fully twenty to thirty feet tall!
An otherwise loose-fitting black robe was stretched taut across his bulging muscles, clinging to his physique like a skintight martial tunic.
His cheeks were narrow and long, and his eyes were stark white, save for a pinpoint of golden amber in each pupil.
Look closely, and that snow-white coloration was not skin tone at all, but countless arcs of lightning crackling without pause.
Lei Yu!
His cultivation was at the mid fourth-tier, carrying the bloodline of the desolate beast Thunder Peng.
None of this was particularly extraordinary; any top-tier Demon Emperor in this realm possessed some notable heritage.
However, rumors held that he had once clashed for hundreds of rounds with a human late Nascent Soul grand cultivator.
Though gravely injured, he had miraculously survived in the end.
After that battle, Lei Yu's renown spread among the apex powerhouses of the Million Mountains until there was not a single demon who did not know his name.
Some Demon Emperors even considered Lei Yu to possess the strength of one of the Nine Commanders!
It was truly astonishing that Commander Qi Xi had managed to enlist someone like him.
"Lei Yu, there is no need for formalities between the two of us. Of the four gates of Lingtian Pass, only the west gate at the rear has the weakest defenses and is relatively the easiest to breach. That gate is entrusted to you alone!"
Lei Yu looked down upon the gathered demons from his towering height, his narrow cheeks tapering to a slightly protruding mouth.
He gave a sinister grin, clasping his hands together as his knuckles cracked like popping embers.
"I've nursed my wounds for a hundred years without making a move. Today is as good a time as any to loosen these bones."
Qi Xi hesitated for a moment before adding a caution. "The True Person guarding that sector is of uncertain background, but his divine sense is roughly at the mid Nascent Soul level. Human experts are adept at leveraging external aids and possess endless tricks. You should still be careful."
At the words "adept at leveraging external aids and possess endless tricks," a burst of ferocious hostility surged onto Lei Yu's face.
"I don't need your reminder! I know that better than anyone!"
In that battle a century ago, countless demon beasts thought it glorious enough that he had survived an encounter with a human grand cultivator.
Only he knew just how miserably he had been suppressed back then.
Moreover, that old man's tricks had exceeded anything he had ever seen in his life.
"Endless tricks"—those words truly were the perfect description.
Crack!
From the clouds below, the rumble of a thunderbolt rolled up.
Commander Qi Xi took a deep breath.
"It is time!"
***
At the east gate.
Qin Baixiang stood tall atop the city walls, heedless of the howling gale that whipped his robes into a frenzy.
Ever since receiving the news brought back by Alchemy Grandmaster Luo Chen, he had come up in person from time to time to inspect the gate and guard against unforeseen disasters.
Today in particular, a persistent restlessness gnawed at his spirit.
Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.
In the distance, dust billowed abruptly into the air.
Several streaks of escape light descended beneath the city wall.
Before they could even enter the pass, Qin Baixiang transmitted his voice down: "What happened out there?"
Below was a patrol squad that had just rushed back. Looking up and spotting Qin Baixiang, their panicked hearts settled somewhat.
"Reporting to the True Person, Fire Ridge has fallen! A number of fellow Daoists managed to escape, but a massive horde of demon beasts is hot on their heels. Our patrol squad cannot eliminate them on our own, so we returned specifically to request reinforcements!"
Has Fire Ridge fallen?
Qin Baixiang furrowed his brows, his divine sense surging outward.
Soon, amidst a crowd a hundred li away, he detected a faint, lingering presence.
"Fellow Daoist Gaoling is still alive, but he doesn't seem to be in good shape!"
The owner of that aura also sensed Qin Baixiang's unreserved divine probe and hastily called out: "Is that Fellow Daoist Qin of the Hundred Beasts Sect? Please, come out and lend us a hand! These elites are all my sect has left—we cannot afford to lose any more of them! I will surely reward you handsomely afterward!"
Qin Baixiang lifted his foot to step forward, but drew it back an instant later.
"A hundred li is but an instant away. Fellow Daoist, hold on just a little longer."
"You!"
Perfected Gaoling cried out in fury, but he did not press further.
He slashed out several beams of sword light in quick succession, slaughtering a swath of demon beasts behind him to buy his disciples precious time.
Drip! Drop!
Heavy raindrops began to pelt down.
The billowing clouds of dust seemed considerably dampened by the downpour.
From afar, disheveled figures could be seen supporting one another as they arrived beneath Lingtian Pass.
Yet the city gate remained closed!
A mature woman with charming grace and disheveled hair flew toward the gate, gripping a longsword.
She glared furiously up at the motionless Qin Baixiang atop the battlements. "Fellow Daoist, will you still not open the gate?"
Qin Baixiang's gaze swept over the dozens of cultivators beneath the pass. Fire Ridge, once famous for its abundant subterranean resources and boasting a grand host of a hundred thousand disciples, had dwindled to just this pitiful handful?
"The gate will open shortly, but before entering, everyone must undergo inspection by the Demon-Revealing Mirror. Please remain calm, Fellow Daoist."
Beneath the watchtower of the east gate, a radiant mirror hung high, shining brilliantly.
Yet the woman could not wait. She soared into the air.
"What time do you think it is?! Do you truly intend to stand idly by and watch my Fire Ridge be wiped out to the last soul?!"
Seeing her shrewish frenzy, Qin Baixiang's expression soured.
"Fellow Daoist, you know full well the rules of Lingtian Pass... Wait!"
The area within ten li of the city was a flight-restriction zone!
Below the Nascent Soul realm, no one could fly without an authorized token.
Even Nascent Soul powerhouses would suffer immense suppression unless they held an identity token blessed by the anti-flight array.
For her to soar upward with such utter disregard...
Midway through the air, the furious woman's eyes suddenly flashed with cunning.
A streak of dark gold light burst from the crown of her head, lunging toward Qin Baixiang with the speed of thunder!
This sudden upheaval erupted without warning, leaving scarcely a breath to react.
Qin Baixiang's eyes widened, his pupils reflecting the true form of that dark gold light.
It was none other than a Six-Winged Golden Cicada!
Yet the moment the Six-Winged Golden Cicada crossed within thirty feet of him, it could advance no further.
A surging soundwave rolled out like a tidal wave.
"Vile beast, begone!"
A streak of yellow light shot from Qin Baixiang's body, transforming into an agile ape that beat its chest in fury.
A roar like thunder and rolling war drums erupted from its throat, turning into sonic waves that swept across the field outside the walls.
Beneath this deafening roar, the bewildered survivors of Fire Ridge detonated into clouds of blood and mist.
"Twilight Monkey!"
The Six-Winged Golden Cicada screeched, emitting a frequency imperceptible to human ears, yet returning a roaring blast of sonic power of its own.
"Fellow Daoist, if you do not strike now, what are you waiting for?!"
In the very next instant, amidst flashing lightning and crashing thunder, a figure plummeted from the highest heavens, heading straight for Qin Baixiang.
Not in the least panicked, Qin Baixiang shouted, "Activate the grand formation at once!" and shot into the sky.
Boom!
Without a single wasted word, the two clashed in midair.
The battle at the east gate had arrived the quickest.
Yet it also bought ample time for the other sectors to respond.
Across Lingtian Pass, the radiant glows of defensive formations flared up in succession, shimmering without pause.
At the north gate:
Xiao Shiniang, Mistress of Ancient Mist Isle, watched the two Demon Emperors charging forward as they resisted the anti-flight array. Letting out a light chuckle, she opened her mouth and exhaled gently.
Plumes of thick mist drifted out, and her figure vanished instantly, swallowing the two Demon Emperors into the haze.
"Guests are welcome from afar. Fellow Daoists, why be so reckless?"
At the south gate:
Perfected Xianhe looked grave. With a flick of his horsetail whisk, three thousand beams of white light lashed into the curtain of rain.
Two figures were stepping slowly out from the downpour.
Malice hung between their brows, exuding a chilling murderous intent.
***
The western district of Lingtian Pass sat at the rear, connecting to the Five Lingtian Regions; it was the safest location of all.
Atop the battlements, Zeng Yilong was chatting with Yang Pingdu.
"Did Martial Uncle head outside the pass to test his spells again?"
"Yes, the Supreme Elder has been leaving the city quite frequently of late."
"Martial Uncle is already so formidable, yet he remains so tireless in studying spells. It is truly an example for our generation to follow! I cannot slack off either. Once my leave period comes, I must master the body arts Master passed down to me."
Seeing Zeng Yilong's face brimming with drive, Yang Pingdu felt a deep envy in his heart.
Zeng Yilong was both Elder Wang Yuan's direct disciple and the child of an old friend of the Supreme Elder; he was thoroughly favored in the Luotian Sect.
From childhood to adulthood, he had never lacked cultivation resources.
As soon as the Supreme Elder returned, he had gifted him his own early signature magic treasure, the Poyue Wings, along with a massive halberd, instantly covering many of the young man's shortcomings.
Upon arriving at Lingtian Pass, relying on the Supreme Elder's prestige as an Alchemy Grandmaster, Zeng Yilong had won over hearts and minds on a grand scale.
If this continued, with time, Zeng Yilong would surely become one of the Eastern Desolation's most renowned prodigies.
Yet envy was only envy.
He harbored little jealousy; the Luotian Sect had treated him far from poorly.
The former sect master had bestowed the Mingyuan Pill upon him rather than her own biological brother, which alone demonstrated the esteem in which he was held.
Later, she had appointed him Law Enforcement Elder to oversee the entire sect, placing him in a position of substantial power and high status.
He was merely an outsider who had joined later, yet he had received such tremendous regard. What reason did he have to covet the treatment of someone from the sect's inner circle?
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a white figure.
"The Supreme Elder has returned."
Zeng Yilong saw him too and said excitedly, "I'll go open the gate for him!"
Right at that moment, Yang Pingdu whipped around, staring toward the distant reaches of Lingtian Pass.
Multiple streaks of light plummeted from the sky, and formations everywhere ignited instantly.
Recalling the Supreme Elder's warning from a month prior, he shrilled: "Enemy assault! All hands, to your stations!"
However, few could hear his cry.
For an abrupt explosion of thunder overwhelmed the entire western district.
From the highest heavens, a great demon descended!
Beneath the wall:
A white-clad figure soared into the sky without the slightest hesitation.
As he surged upward, a palm imprint materialized, rapidly expanding.
The surrounding spiritual qi of heaven and earth converged madly toward that palm imprint.
Pushing forward with a single palm, the white-robed figure sent the colossal green palm roaring ahead until it collided head-on with a bolt of lightning.
Heavenly thunder met earthly fire, erupting into a tremendous detonation!
Boom!
A destructive shockwave rippled outward from the point of impact.
Curtains of rain were blasted backward; the gale shrieked.
Even the ten thousand li of dark clouds blanketing Lingtian Pass were ripped open with a massive rift under the shockwave.
Sunlight beamed straight down through the breach.
Luo Chen stood poised in empty air at the center of that beam of light, his sharp eyes locked onto the figure slowly descending from the blast's aftermath.
A sinister laugh echoed in his ears.
"Such keen divine sense, such boundless magic power! No wonder that fellow Qi Xi warned me to be cautious... Eh?"
Standing nearly thirty feet tall, the giant stared at the white-clad figure in the distance, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.
"State your name, intruder!"
Upon seeing the giant's visage, Luo Chen's pupils contracted.
Without hesitation, black armor enveloped his body. His hands hovered before him as he said coldly, "You are the intruder!"
The giant let out an "Oh?" Just as he was about to unleash a thunderous assault, the bizarre sense of familiarity Luo Chen gave him made him hesitate.
"I am Lei Yu, under the Sovereign of Mount Cangwu!"
It truly was him!
The great demon of Mount Cangwu, who had once clashed head-on with Perfected Shenyuan, ancestor of the Five Elements Divine Sect.
Luo Chen had thought he perished at the hands of that old scoundrel Shenyuan, yet he was still alive.
The Thunder Prison Divine Roc!
Luo Chen drew a deep breath and slowly raised his hands.
A fire phoenix soared out from behind him, its towering blaze threatening to incinerate everything under heaven.
Gazing upon that fire phoenix, Lei Yu's glowing white eyes narrowed slightly.
"Unwilling to state your name and origin?"
"Very well. Once this seat captures you, I will naturally discover where this familiarity comes from!"
He strode forward, moving faster and faster as arcs of lightning erupted from his body, turning him into a titan of thunder.
Facing the diving fire phoenix, he showed not a shred of fear.
What was more, with a flick of his hand, a black warhammer abruptly materialized in his grip.
The fire phoenix arrived in the blink of an eye!
Skreeee!
Amidst its piercing cry, it passed right through an afterimage.
The fire phoenix paused, startled, then whipped around and flew back toward Luo Chen's position.
Crack-snap!
Lightning flickered, and Lei Yu reappeared, black hammer in hand, smashing down toward Luo Chen with cataclysmic force.
With a single strike, Luo Chen was pulverized into dust.
An afterimage?
Lei Yu was momentarily taken aback, but quickly caught on. "What astonishing speed!"
He spun around sharply, swinging his hammer against the pursuing fire phoenix.
"The phoenix is a celestial divine bird! Do you think you're worthy of wielding such mimicry magic?!"
Bang!
Lightning trembled as the fire phoenix suffered a crushing blow, its body of condensed magic power shattering inch by inch.
Having narrowly dodged that hammer strike using Moon Steps, Luo Chen reappeared in another spot.
Watching the hulking figure of the Thunder Prison Divine Roc shatter the fire phoenix with a single hammer blow, his eyes filled with profound wariness.
This demon is surely the strongest foe I have ever faced in my life. Spells alone will not suffice to defeat him.
Perhaps I can use the formations of Lingtian Pass to stall him, or wait for fellow Daoists to arrive as reinforcements.
Regardless, I can hold nothing back!
Luo Chen's right arm trembled as a crimson glow, swirling like fresh blood, was on the verge of manifesting.
Right at that moment—
He snapped his head toward the center of the city.
Amidst the dense, dark storm clouds, a seven-colored behemoth like a five-hundred-zhang mountain came stampeding down through the torrential rain.
The violent spiritual qi of heaven and earth converged wildly toward him like mad beasts.
It was a rhinoceros, draped in seven-colored radiance, resembling an auspicious divine beast out of ancient myth.
With his descent, boundless demonic qi pressed down upon the protective grand formation blanketing Lingtian Pass, sending ripples spreading across its surface.
From the rhinoceros's maw rumbled a roar like an earthquake:
"Qi Xi, under Lord Pingshan, has come to strike the pass!"
Chapter 809