Volume 1, Chapter 252 – Yun Chen

Xianwu City, the top-floor pavilion of the Battle Merit Hall.

More than thirty figures stood scattered about. From the completely undisguised fluctuations of the laws around them, it was clear that without exception, everyone present was a mighty expert at the Heaven-Man Realm or above. Yan Mobei was among them as well.

The pavilion was solemn, and the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

“That fox demon from the other day has likely already brought back the portion of information we deliberately revealed to the demon race. Judging by the situation, the demon race should be making a major move within the next couple of days.”

Yue Xiuwen, clad in black armor, was the first to speak, breaking the silence.

Aside from him, there were seven others in black armor present. These eight were the only Demon-Suppressing Marshals left in Chengtian Domain.

“The demon race has overwhelming numbers. I went out of the city to scout the day before yesterday. The demon beasts gathered outside the city already number no fewer than forty million, and there is still a large mass of reinforcements behind them. I fear the total will exceed a hundred million.”

A beautiful married woman who looked to be around thirty took over, her expression filled with worry.

“Low-level demon beasts are no more than cannon fodder. No matter how many come, they will just die. What we do not know is how many shape-shifted demon clansmen have come.”

“The teleportation formation to Haotian Domain has already been opened. At the very least, we should be able to bring in some additional reinforcements to share the pressure.”

“As long as no Demon Emperor appears, Xianwu City is as secure as a fortress. Nothing will happen,” said a Daoist in green robes with complete confidence.

“Exactly. We still have the formation to rely on. Holding the city for half a year or a year would not be a problem at all.”

“That may not be so.”

A handsome man who looked a bit over thirty shook his head slightly.

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“We do not know much about the demon race’s information. It is entirely possible that among the beast tide outside the city, there is a great demon whose demon arts touch the divine hidden there.”

“What Jiyun says does make some sense. We should still be cautious.”

Yan Mobei leaned against the wall in a corner and did not offer any opinion.

“The most urgent matter is still to gather all the forces in the city first and fully reorganize those martial artists from the various sects and factions. That is a force that cannot be underestimated.”

One of the Demon-Suppressing Marshals spoke, bringing the discussion to an end.

As his voice fell, ripples of space spread out all around. One Heaven-Man after another departed, and in an instant the pavilion became empty.

“Mobei, do you still have something to say?”

Aside from the few Demon-Suppressing Marshals, Yan Mobei had not left and still stood in the corner.

“I want to make this clear in advance. If the situation becomes impossible to salvage, I will not live and die with this city. Throwing my life away here has no meaning whatsoever for me. I am not like you. The Imperial Court will not look upon the Bai family any differently because I died in battle,” Yan Mobei said calmly.

Among the young officers in the Demon-Suppressing Army, there was no shortage of scions from the great clans of Central Heaven Domain. Among those clans were also descendants of the Human Emperor bloodline on the same level as the Bai family, but very few were willing to dispatch large numbers of experts to come to the rescue.

At most, they would simply send a few Nascent Soul Realm experts, use their connections, and quietly take away the more important juniors, just as Wan Yuanwu had once seized Shi Lan’s battle merit on the battlefield.

After all, the reason these great clans had sent those juniors into the Demon-Suppressing Army in the first place was merely for tempering and experience.

The great clans and the Imperial Court were two entirely different camps.

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Even if those great clans shed blood for the Imperial Court, once this demon calamity was over, the Imperial Court would not compensate them for the strength they had expended. It was a thankless task that cost much and gained little, so naturally they would not give it their all.

Most importantly, those great clans had not received a Martial Summons Decree from the Imperial Court, so they naturally had a reason not to contribute fully.

The human heart was the most complicated thing. Even within the Demon-Suppressing Army, undercurrents were surging.

The eight Demon-Suppressing Marshals remaining in the pavilion all belonged to the Imperial Court, because mighty Heaven-Man Realm experts from the great clans had no right whatsoever to sit in the position of commander of the Demon-Suppressing Army.

The Demon-Suppressing Army becoming the private army of any one faction was something that could absolutely never be allowed to happen. That was the Imperial Court’s bottom line.

“Don’t worry. If the city truly comes to the point of falling, then go if you want. No one will stop you.”

Yue Xiuwen waved a hand, unconcerned. Not everyone could pour out their blood for the greater cause of the human race and face death without fear. Yan Mobei’s words were perfectly reasonable.

…

“Should we try contacting the Superior Generals again?”

After Yan Mobei left, one of the Demon-Suppressing Marshals frowned slightly and spoke with some hesitation.

“We’ve already tried countless times before. There was no response at all. I’m afraid they simply have no time to bother with us.”

“And with the battle situation in the starry skies beyond the domain still unclear, if we disturb them rashly…”

“But the current situation is not looking good. Should we give it another try?”

“It would be good even just to get a timeframe.”

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After discussing it among themselves, the Demon-Suppressing Marshals exchanged glances and, without speaking, took out their Demon-Suppressing Tokens.

The eight purple Demon-Suppressing Tokens each occupied a corner of the pavilion. Suddenly, brilliant light burst forth from them, covering all directions. The space within seemed like the surface of a furious sea, stirring up countless ripples.

An invisible passage opened, carrying with it an unknown message. It pierced through the hall’s roof, shot straight into the nine heavens, broke through layer after layer of astral wind, and was transmitted into the boundless universe…

Time passed second by second. In the blink of an eye, nearly six hours had gone by, and a faint sheen of sweat had appeared on the foreheads of all eight Demon-Suppressing Marshals.

“At most, we wait another half an hour. If there is still no reply, we close the passage.”

Yue Xiuwen licked his lips. Though he had long expected this result, he was still somewhat disappointed in the end.

The half hour quickly passed. Just as the marshals were preparing to close the passage and withdraw their Demon-Suppressing Tokens, a blurred figure slowly emerged from within the passage.

A majestic Dao aura filled the entire Battle Merit Hall. Some of the mortals and weaker martial artists around the Battle Merit Hall involuntarily dropped to their knees and bowed in grand prostration as if worshiping heaven.

The Demon-Suppressing Marshals were overjoyed, yet they did not dare move in the slightest, carefully maintaining the passage.

The visitor’s features could not be seen clearly. He stood tall, dressed in a long green robe. Merely standing there quietly, he seemed to stand at the peak of the world itself, leaving others only able to look up at him, not daring to meet his gaze.

“This subordinate pays respects to Superior General Yun Chen.”

Sensing that familiar aura, the eight Demon-Suppressing Marshals bowed together.

“Superior General, by now most of Xianwu City has already been lost. We…” one of the Demon-Suppressing Marshals began, unable to hold back.

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“It is of no consequence.”

Yun Chen shook his head slightly, cutting him off.

“I only have the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, so I will keep this brief. The battle on the battlefield beyond the domain will have a result very soon. At the soonest, in half a year; at the latest, in one year, we will return to Lingyang.”

The Demon-Suppressing Marshals exchanged glances, their spirits lifting, and they could not help letting out a breath of relief. Now that they had a concrete timeframe, at least they would not have to suffer as before, knowing absolutely nothing.

“The demon race did not gain much of an advantage this time either.”

“In this battle in the starry skies beyond the domain, all three races suffered heavy losses. Our human race had a slight edge, but eight Human Emperors still fell. The demon race lost nine Demon Emperors, including one enormous demon at the absolute limit of the Emperor level. Beneath that, dozens of Heaven Demons also perished. Of the eighteen Demon Emperor Halls of the demon domain, nearly half suffered grievous losses.”

When he mentioned that enormous demon at the absolute limit of the Emperor level, even Yun Chen’s calm tone showed a trace of fluctuation.

Those at the absolute limit within the Emperor level were supreme powerhouses only half a step away from the Sovereign Realm. They could almost rampage unhindered through Lingyang and, in the starry universe, were absolute overlord-class figures.

Hearing this, the Demon-Suppressing Marshals could not help clenching their fists. The great battle in the starry skies beyond the domain was a hundred times fiercer than what the Lingyang Realm was facing at this moment.

“The devil race suffered the least. Only five Devil Lords died. However, Purple Cloud Demon Venerable has already been heavily wounded by a Sovereign and will not be able to stir up much trouble for the next thousand years…”

At this point, Yun Chen paused slightly, then lifted his eyes to one side. His gaze pierced through the walls of the hall and looked toward the boundless beast tide outside the city.

“So there is actually a Demon Emperor here…”