Demonic Flames

"They're finally here." Yaoguang was not the least bit surprised by this news. In fact, he had anticipated it for a long time. He glanced in the direction of the Tianshang Battle Hall... "It must be Qi Sha's breakthrough to the Void Refining realm that prompted their final decision. Right now, Qi Sha has just broken through and hasn't stabilized his realm yet. Once he stabilizes his cultivation, with the power of his Great Dao of Destruction combined with the Annihilation Sword, he will be a standout even among Void Refining cultivators, adding another variable." Yaoguang understood clearly in his heart. "Of course, the news from the Heavenly Dao Sect also played a role. The sect master is away, and now four Void Shattering Supreme Elders have been forced to head into deep space beyond the stars to reinforce Zong Wenxian. The Heavenly Dao Sect's forces are at their emptiest. If that Demon Lord of Eight Desolations wants to make a move, this opportunity is truly once in a thousand years." As he pondered, he immediately replied via jade talisman: "Can you detect how many people the Shadow Moon Sect has sent?" "I can't tell. My monitoring station only detected a surge of demonic qi sweeping across Wuzhou at extreme speed toward the Southern Domain. The demonic qi is immense, so their numbers shouldn't be small. However, they are moving with extreme secrecy, seemingly employing a Dao artifact to mask their traces. Given only a fleeting glimpse, it's very difficult for me to determine their exact numbers," Moye responded swiftly. "Employing a Dao artifact to conceal their traces..." Yaoguang understood that these demon cultivators of the Shadow Moon Sect were also afraid of alerting the enemy prematurely. If they exposed themselves too early, whether Yaoguang called for reinforcements from the Heavenly Dao Sect first or simply abandoned the Southern Domain to flee back to the sect, their efforts would all come to naught. Under such circumstances, it was only natural for them to operate stealthily. For Moye to discover them... "Wait, something's not right! A Void Shattering cultivator who has planned this for so long shouldn't have been discovered by Moye! And... if the Demon Lord of Eight Desolations truly resolved to attack the Southern Domain because Qi Sha broke through to Void Refining, they must have mobilized before he finished his breakthrough. In other words..." Yaoguang snapped his head up. Outside the Domain Master's Manor, another aura surged forth. Although concealed by a formation, a wisp of it still leaked out, allowing people to clearly see the phantom image of an azure blue star cloaking the sky. This was... Someone had broken through to the Azure Blue Golden Core realm! Or rather... Was this the agreed signal between the Jing family and the Demon Lord of Eight Desolations to attack!? "Which means Moye's detection was actually a tentative attempt to lure the snake from its hole, just like when True Monarch Crimson Fiend showed himself back then to draw me out... If they can lure me out of Nandu, it becomes far more foolproof for the Shadow Moon demon cultivators—or rather, for the experts of the Shadow Moon Sect led by the Demon Lord of Eight Desolations. After all, even though the Jing family promised to disrupt the operation of the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation, they still felt uneasy deep down, unwilling to place their hopes entirely in others." Yaoguang understood this in an instant. In a flash of thought, he swiftly transmitted a message to everyone: "The Shadow Moon demon cultivators' vengeance is upon us! Pass down my order: activate the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation! Prepare with full vigilance to face the enemy invasion!" Even Qi Sha, who had just broken through to Void Refining, was alerted. "Keep watch on Wu Changfeng for me. If he makes any rash move, I don't expect you to kill him—just tie him down with all your might!" His divine sense reached Qi Sha instantly. "Understood," Qi Sha responded coldly. Although Wu Changfeng had acted conscientiously over these past years, there was ultimately no solid foundation of trust between them. Qi Sha was not surprised in the slightest by Yaoguang's command. Upon receiving orders, Chi Yu, Ling Ruogu, Li Hanqiu, Wan Liugui, and the others set out one after another, taking their positions. Some led elite forces soaring into the sky, while others went to various quarters to maintain order, ensuring Nandu remained stable. The Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation's divine radiance flowed, on the verge of activation. However, just as the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation was about to fully activate, a disruption occurred in one of the sectors... And the one sabotaging this sector was none other than a Void Piercing Battle Immortal left behind in Nandu by the Jing family to oversee their affairs! "Insolence!" Yaoguang, who had been closely observing these fluctuations, barked coldly at the very first moment. Yet, as quick as his reaction was, another person struck even faster than him. Wu Changfeng. This Void Refining cultivator also seemed to be constantly monitoring every flaw of the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation. Sensing someone creating trouble, he appeared immediately and swooped down to capture and kill the Void Piercing Battle Immortal. However, that Void Piercing Battle Immortal seemed to have reached a point where he could no longer control the primal cavern within him. Facing the strike of a Void Refining cultivator like Wu Changfeng, he detonated his primal cavern without hesitation, unleashing all of its power. In an instant, terrifying energy expanded and erupted outward with that Void Piercing Battle Immortal at the epicenter. He seemingly intended to use this method to thoroughly obliterate the core of the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation, delaying its activation time. "Not good!" Even a Void Refining cultivator like Wu Changfeng would suffer severe injuries if he took the self-detonation of a Void Piercing Battle Immortal head-on. Yet at this moment, he did not shrink back in the slightest. If he retreated, not only would this critical node of the formation be extensively damaged, but the surrounding thousand li would likely be leveled by the detonation. To prevent such a tragedy, the Void Refining cultivator rapidly unfolded his grotto-heaven, transforming it into a primal cavern as well to envelop the detonating primal cavern. However, just as he unfolded his grotto-heaven to forcibly endure the power of the explosion, another force of grotto-heaven closely followed. That grotto-heaven—countless times sturdier than his own—swiftly swept away the vast majority of the primal cavern's self-detonation energy and pressed down slightly... Like stepping on a firecracker to snuff it out. The energy of the primal cavern's self-detonation vanished without a trace. With most of the explosive energy absorbed by this grotto-heaven, the remainder was easily borne by Wu Changfeng. "Sect Master." Looking at the figure who had suddenly appeared, Wu Changfeng hurriedly greeted him, his tone carrying urgency: "Sect Master, didn't I mention the vulnerabilities of the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation to you? Why..." "I am aware," Yaoguang replied calmly, then asked, "Can you still fight?" Wu Changfeng quickly calmed himself. Feeling the monstrous demonic flames already visible at the horizon, sweeping toward them at incredible speed, he knew this was no time to argue over such matters. "I can fight!" Wu Changfeng assented in a deep voice, glancing at the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation. "However, the city-guarding formation will likely need over a hundred breaths to restart... The Shadow Moon Sect comes with ferocious momentum; they might not give us that much time..." "No matter." Yaoguang put away a shadow-recording stone in his hand. Recorded upon it was the exact scene of the Jing family's Void Piercing Battle Immortal sabotaging the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation. This was evidence. Immediately afterward, he took out his deputy sect master token and connected directly to the Supreme Elder Council. "What is it?" Soon, a divine sense came through. Sensing it slightly, Yaoguang quickly identified the person's identity. What a... coincidence. "Supreme Elder Jing Yuntian? Supreme Elder Jing is on duty this year?" Yaoguang said calmly. "Indeed. You have contacted me using the highest communication channel. What has happened?" "The Shadow Moon Sect is attacking in force..." Yaoguang responded as though making an official report, glancing at the surging demonic clouds rolling toward them. Illuminated by his true spirit's light, the auras concealed within the demonic clouds were laid bare. "Leading them is Supreme Elder Demon Lord of Eight Desolations of the Shadow Moon Sect. Furthermore, judging by the demonic flames they have whipped up, there is another Void Shattering demon cultivator, as well as up to five Void Refining demon cultivators. I request that the sect activate the teleportation array to reinforce Nandu." "What?! Such a thing is happening?! How audacious of the Shadow Moon Sect!" Upon receiving the news, Jing Yuntian flared up in fury. "Hold on for a moment! I will convene the Supreme Elder Council at once to summon all Supreme Elders to discuss reinforcing Nandu!" With that, he cut off the transmission. Seeing this, Yaoguang's expression remained unchanged. Everyone was merely going through the motions. As for whether those motions served any purpose... Both Yaoguang and Jing Yuntian knew full well. Beside him, however, Wu Changfeng listened to the exchange between Yaoguang and Jing Yuntian, his eyes filled with shock. "Two Void Shattering demon cultivators... and five Void Refining demon cultivators?!" "To be precise, two Void Shattering demon cultivators and at least six Void Refining demon cultivators. There's also a contingent of demon cultivators bluffing at the border to draw us out," Yaoguang said, gazing at the approaching demonic flames. "A lion uses full strength even when hunting a rabbit. I successively refined and killed two Void Refining demon cultivators, Xie Tong and Crimson Fiend, displaying combat power no less than that of a peak Void Refining expert. Moreover, having attained the Dao through a Void Dao Seed, my movement techniques are exceptionally nimble. Even if the Demon Lord of Eight Desolations struck in person, he might not be able to bring me down. This time, they are launching a direct assault on our base in Nandu. Relying on him alone, where would he find the confidence? Inviting another Void Shattering Supreme Elder and five Void Refining demon cultivators doesn't exceed my expectations." Seeing Yaoguang's calm and unhurried demeanor, Wu Changfeng had no idea where his confidence came from. After a moment, as if realizing something, he asked with a trace of trepidation, "Could it be that the discord between you and Sect Master Zong Wenxian was staged, an elaborate drama played out between the two of you? Designed specifically to lure the Shadow Moon Sect's demon cultivators into Nandu so you could wipe them out in one fell swoop? In truth, are there already Supreme Elders lying in ambush in Nandu?" Yaoguang gave him an odd look. "No. The only Void Refining cultivators in Nandu are the few of us. There isn't a single Void Shattering cultivator." Wu Changfeng's heart sank instantly. Rumble! In the instant of their exchange, the monstrous demonic qi had already swept over Nandu. At the fore stood two figures... One was the Shadow Moon Sect's Supreme Elder, the Demon Lord of Eight Desolations. The other was another Supreme Elder of the Shadow Moon Sect, who called himself the Dark Demon Lord. "Eight Desolations, as agreed, the spoils on this human belong to me!" Amidst the billowing demonic flames, the Dark Demon Lord's divine sense continuously intertwined with the Demon Lord of Eight Desolations. "I am only interested in his corpse and soul. That four billion in profit, including the Dao artifacts on him, are all yours!" The Demon Lord of Eight Desolations responded, his actions decisive to the extreme. "However, now is not the time to talk. Everyone strike! No useless chatter, and don't give him any room to breathe! While the Heavenly Capital Dragon-Slashing Formation cannot be activated, strike him down with thunderous fury and leave!" As he spoke, the surging demonic flames behind him seemed to transform into the phantom of a colossal world. This was his void-type innate Dao art—Eight Desolations Purgatory! Seeing the Demon Lord of Eight Desolations make his move, the Dark Demon Lord wasted no time either. Within the demonic flames behind him, six eye pupils emerged and slowly opened. "Six Senses Deprivation!" Without a word or exchange between the sides, before direct contact was even made, the great battle erupted in its most fierce and violent form.