In the next instant, a massive peacock phantom appeared behind Nangong Xiao, spreading its wings in full display.
Countless beams of colored light shot forth, and Ye Yu’s form dissolved utterly like mud in water.
His body and soul were completely annihilated!
After dispatching him so thoroughly, Nangong Xiao felt a surge of elation. The Heavenly Demon Realm truly was supreme—how could a mere minor demon stand against him?
Yet his joy was short-lived. In the very next moment, his ankle was seized, and he was hoisted into the air with brutal force.
He crashed down onto the ground, the earth cracking beneath him.
The pain was so intense that Nangong Xiao nearly lost consciousness.
At the same time, the surroundings shifted in an instant.
They still stood before the entrance of the Blessed Realm Grotto, but now a towering figure, tens of thousands of feet tall, stood before him.
On closer inspection, it looked like Ye Yu.
No—what was happening? Hadn’t he just died?
How could he be reborn now?
Wait—was the previous scene just an illusion?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible. Nangong Xiao was a powerful Demon Lord Realm expert; there was no way he could have been drawn into a dreamscape by someone of the Heavenly Demon Realm.
But in fact, nothing was impossible.
Heou knew that when Ye Yu deployed the Spirit–Demon Array to teleport Lu Linian away, no physical motion was required—just the slightest thought.
The only reason Ye Yu had raised his right hand was to cast the Thousand Dreams Illusion Technique!
From that moment, Nangong Xiao had been ensnared.
And that delay had given Ye Yu time to unleash the Tianyao Mieshi Jue!
At the very moment the gigantic dharma manifestation appeared, Ye Yu swept Nangong Xiao up and delivered an invincible Wind-Fire Wheel slam.
Even a Demon Lord Realm body could not withstand such force!
As the saying goes: strike while the enemy is vulnerable!
Ye Yu left Nangong Xiao no chance to react, chaining his attacks to hurl him repeatedly until he was battered senseless.
Then he crushed him with a mountaintop-crushing blow!
In that instant, the entire Luan Yao City shook as if an earthquake had struck.
Nangong Xiao’s demon-woven robes were shredded, and he lay grievously wounded, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Sang Yuyun, standing to one side, could hardly believe her eyes.
A Demon Lord Realm powerhouse had been beaten without being able to strike back—this defied all logic in the demon world!
Yet Ye Yu felt no triumph, nor did he move forward to finish Nangong Xiao off.
Instead, he watched his surroundings warily.
By rights, the colossal commotion of the Tianyao Mieshi Jue should have drawn every demon in Luan Yao City.
And yet not a single one had appeared.
This was deeply suspicious.
After all, this was the City Lord’s Mansion, guarded by over a thousand sentinels—how could no one notice?
And what of Ye Jizui? He shouldn’t be sleeping so deeply!
As Ye Yu pondered, a cold, mocking voice echoed out.
“It’s said that the Heavenly Demon World-Extinguishing Art is the foremost cultivation method of the demon realm. After years of disappearance, it actually manifests in a mere sheep demon—it’s incredible. No—truly befitting a demon of destined greatness!”
Ye Yu turned to see a corpulent middle-aged man hovering a short distance away, two broad wings rippling behind him.
The powerful demonic aura he emitted marked him unmistakably as a Demon King Realm master.
Anger flared within Ye Yu.
This dreamscape—was it the dreaded difficulty boost? Why were so many Demon King Realm experts appearing?
Upon seeing the fat man, Nangong Xiao writhed in pain and forced out a furious shout, “City Lord Zhu, kill him! Kill him!”
The man called City Lord Zhu frowned slightly, sweeping his sleeve in disdain.
A torrent of violent energy sprang forth, instantly crushing Nangong Xiao to death on the spot!
Sang Yuyun’s eyes went wide in disbelief as she let out a heart-wrenching cry.
As Luan Yao City’s Grand Supervisor, though her realm wasn’t high, she ranked just below thousands of others!
She had betrayed Ye Jizui of ten thousand years’ devotion for love, believing Nangong Xiao’s promise of power.
A century ago they had become lovers. At his urging, she’d even forsaken her master to seize the First Generation City Lord.
She had dreamed they would succeed: abduct the giant egg, enthrone Nangong Xiao, and see herself rise to be the City Lord’s consort.
Never had she imagined their scheme would be undone at the first step, her beloved slain in an instant.
How could she not be distraught?
“Silence!” City Lord Zhu glanced at Sang Yuyun with contempt, then casually severed her as well, sending the ill-fated pair to their doom.
When he had finished, he tilted his head back and regarded Ye Yu’s towering dharma form with a quiet smile.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” he said softly. “I am Zhu Rixian, City Lord of Winged Demon City. It is now the Hour of the Horse; in another half-hour or so, Ye Jizui will fall by my men’s blades, and Luan Yao City will become part of Winged Demon City.
“As you have seen, Nangong Xiao helped me infiltrate Luan Yao City. We were once allies. But his character is objectionable—I loathe him, so he had to die!
“You are different. You are a demon of destined greatness—those are my favorite collaborators. Consider joining forces: together we can take Luan Yao City.
“Of course, first you must hand over my clansman of the Peacock Tribe!”
Seeing Zhu Rixian’s earnest expression, Ye Yu knew he was not joking.
Moreover, the absolute silence outside showed that the entire {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} city must be under their control.
Even Ye Jizui would fall without question—clearly Winged Demon City had made perfect preparations!
But was he really going to give up Nangong Jingtang?
After all, Ye Jizui had repeatedly warned him to protect the safety of the First Generation City Lord at all costs, never letting her fall into enemy hands!
What was he to do?
Perhaps it truly was time to consider fleeing with the egg!
As Ye Yu remained silent, City Lord Zhu prepared to speak again.
But a sudden pillar of multicolored light descended from the sky, piercing the dark clouds and striking straight into the Blessed Realm Grotto!
Immediately, all of Luan Yao City began to tremble violently!
