At this moment, if one looked down from above upon all of Luan Yao City, they could clearly see the vast demon city divided into numerous sectors by various barrier arrays.
Among the hundred clans, some were locked in furious battle, while others lay as tranquil as still water.
Take the Horned Eagle Clan, for example.
Two purple-robed demons with twin wings on their backs stood sentinel at the gate. Facing the clan chief, Chen Mingzi, they bowed respectfully and said, “Elder, our Winged Demon City forces have made full preparations for this operation. In half an hour, Luan Yao City will be completely ours.”
“The City Lord has already instructed that as long as you and your clansmen do not interfere, the Horned Eagle Clan’s status will remain unaffected, and upon success you will receive a grand gift.”
At their words, Chen Mingzi’s expression grew disdainful.
“Oh? A grand gift? What might that be?”
The purple-robed demon answered gravely, “The primordial blood of an Ancient Roc.”
Chen Mingzi raised an eyebrow, though his gaze remained as cold as ever.
“Roc’s blood,” he mused. “Had this been eighty thousand years ago, it might have intrigued me—but now? Ha!”
Just then, a column of multicolored light descended from the sky, striking in the direction of the City Lord’s Mansion.
Astonishingly, this light ignored all barrier defenses and shone clearly for every demon to see.
At once, Chen Mingzi’s face changed. With a rapid gesture he shattered the shield overhead and strode eastward.
At the same time, the leaders of the other clans all made the same move—without concerting, they advanced toward the City Lord’s Mansion!
Elsewhere, Ye Yu and Zhu Rixian both turned their gaze toward the pillar of light.
In only a few breaths’ time, the light faded—and Ye Yu’s Blessed Realm Grotto shattered with a thunderous crack.
A peerlessly beautiful woman draped in a multihued robe descended step by step through the void.
Her surging demonic aura was so immense that the very space around her warped and twisted!
Zhu Rixian was no fool: such terrifying power could only mean that Nangong Jingtang had successfully been reborn.
How infuriating! He had assumed that under the influence of the Rebirth Drum of Futiān, she would emerge in a juvenile state—allowing him to gradually bend her to his will.
But unexpectedly, she returned in her prime.
In this situation, not only could he not control her, but his entire plan for Luan Yao City would be utterly annihilated!
Zhu Rixian instantly chose to flee, his form streaking away like a bolt of light.
This movement immediately drew Nangong Jingtang’s attention.
She raised both hands before her, forming an intricate hand seal.
In the next moment, the five-colored light reappeared, enveloping Zhu Rixian’s fleeing form.
A pig-like scream pierced the air, then in an instant vanished.
His light—and his very presence—were erased from the sky!
Ye Yu sensed clearly that Zhu Rixian’s demonic aura had been utterly extinguished.
A late-stage Demon King Realm expert—gone just like that?
So this truly was the power of the First Generation City Lord of Luan Yao City from three hundred thousand years ago!
Ye Yu could not indulge in astonishment. He snapped into full alert and prepared to invoke the Spirit–Demon Array to escape.
After all, he could not be certain whether Nangong Jingtang, in her current state, might slaughter him on the spot!
But Ye Yu stiffened at once: Nangong Jingtang’s gaze had fixed upon him.
If he tried to flee now, he would likely meet the same fate as Zhu Rixian.
Ye Yu gradually withdrew the power of the Tianyao Mieshi Jue, striving to appear nonthreatening. He spoke in a low voice, “Drum of Futiān Rebirth, I am the destined demon you of the Nangong clan call ‘Demon of Fate.’ It was I who awakened you!”
Frankly, playing the emotional card was his last resort—but given the circumstances, it was all he could do.
Unfortunately, Nangong Jingtang did not seem to register a single word. She advanced steadily toward Ye Yu.
Soon she stood before him and raised her right hand, holding it in front of her.
At this sight, Ye Yu’s expression turned peculiar. He hesitated, then tentatively formed the same hand seal.
The warm sensation from before returned—but this time, there was no egg shell between them, and the feeling was strangely intimate.
Yet it was clear that Nangong Jingtang’s demonic aura had softened considerably, and the chill on her face had completely vanished.
Her eyes remained closed, as if she were savoring this moment—only in this way could she feel true peace.
Just then, dozens of potent auras hurtled in at great speed.
At their head was Ye Jizui, the City Lord of Luan Yao City. Though he bore fresh wounds, his eyes were still as fierce as ever!
Trailing behind him were the hundred clan lords of Luan Yao City, and several lesser experts rushing to join them.
After three hundred thousand years, upon witnessing Nangong Jingtang standing here in the flesh once more, all the demons wept tears of joy. They dropped to their knees and shouted in unison, “We welcome the rebirth of the First Generation City Lord!”
At the roar of their acclaim, Ye Yu saw Nangong Jingtang furrow her brow slightly, her demonic aura flickering with renewed intensity.
Was this the prelude to violence?
To prevent this “nuclear bomb” from becoming enraged, Ye Yu firmly grasped Nangong Jingtang’s right hand and said to «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» Ye Jizui, “Lord Nangong has just awakened—she needs peace. I will take her back to the City Lord’s Mansion; please do not disturb her.”
As soon as the words fell, Ye Yu did not wait for a reply. He led Nangong Jingtang and flew toward the City Lord’s Mansion, moving as gently as possible.
Watching their retreating forms, the hundred clan lords each frowned.
Although Ye Yu’s words had some truth, they all felt that Nangong Jingtang seemed... off in some indefinable way.
They could not say why.
Thus the clan lords looked to Ye Jizui, seeking his judgment.
His response was explosive. Ye Jizui bellowed, “Judgment? I refuse to judge! Those winged demons launched a massive surprise attack on Luan Yao City—there must be traitors among us! First we root out those bastards, then we speak of Nangong Jingtang!”
As for you,” he continued, “stop fussing over things you don’t understand! Lord Nangong’s power is beyond your imagining. After rebirth, of course she needs time to adapt!”
Hearing this, the clan lords found it entirely reasonable. They ceased their objections and departed to reassure their own people.
Yet in Ye Jizui’s eyes flashed a subtle, troubled gravity.
