Once the Demon Lords had cleared this area, the vast demon host began streaming endlessly through the portal into the Heavens. At the command of their lords, they surged in all directions like a wild flood.
Ye Yu saw Mo Geilian among them and couldn’t help but transmit silently: “Be cautious!”
“Don’t worry, Big Brother,” Mo Geilian replied without looking back as he dashed eastward. “This time in the Heavens, I’ll fetch you a fairy for your wife!”
Ye Yu inwardly felt equal parts amused and exasperated. Who taught him that? Out of the blue he vowed to capture the most beautiful fairy in the Heavens as Ye Yu’s consort. “My brother, you’re too thoughtful—how can I ever repay you?”
Watching the demon armies pouring outward, Ye Yu stifled his smile and turned his gaze south—toward the Unattained Pagoda sect’s stronghold. He had toyed with the idea of meeting his wives in the dream realm, but decided against it. While dreaming, time is too precious—strength must be forged without distraction. Besides, if he stormed the Pagoda in his capacity as Demon Lord, he’d owe them explanations—and not all his wives hailed from dreams!
As for the Pagoda’s safety once the demons reached it, Ye Yu was ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) unfazed. The demon-world portal lay well north of the Heavens’ central lands; the Unattained Pagoda lay so deep in the Heavens’ heartlands that the two were thousands of miles apart. By the time the demon horde arrived, who knew what year or month it would be? Moreover, the Pagoda’s forces had grown vastly more powerful: several Immortal King–Realm experts, plus the defensive arrays Ye Yu himself had laid—no mere demon host could threaten them unless a half-step Demon Emperor intervened.
Ye Yu would also keep real-time watch on the Demon Lords’ movements. In his eyes, these were veteran campaigners—he would not let them run amok.
“Here they come!” At that moment, Qu Zhengding of Juque State snapped his gaze to the distance. Several streaks of light shot toward them, then settled precisely before the Demon Lords—it was seven Immortal King–Realm experts. They had sensed the massive surge of demonic energy and rushed here, only to witness this terrifying scene.
One handsome sword immortal sneered: “What do you demon clans intend to do?”
Qu Zhengding swaggered forward, a bestial grin on his face. “What do we intend? Can’t you see? We’ll finish what our ancestors couldn’t: Ascension! We’ll slay these damned immortals!” His last words clearly aimed at rallying the Demon Lords. Truly, he spared no theatrics.
Though inwardly displeased, the Demon Lords charged the seven sword immortals—after all, their mission was to eliminate the Heavens’ elite and secure an advantage for the demon host. All but two obeyed: Ling Qiansha of Qintian State remained motionless, and Ye Yu stood still in silent disapproval of Qu Zhengding’s posturing. Perhaps Ling Qiansha simply found them unworthy opponents.
With the aid of three half-step Demon Emperor–Realm lords, the seven Immortal King–Realm experts were swiftly slain.
Qu Zhengding snorted, “I hope you two haven’t forgotten our pact: offense and defense united, we strike at Heaven together!” He glared at Ye Yu and Ling Qiansha to remind them.
But Ling Qiansha ignored him, closing his eyes to cultivate. Furious, Qu Zhengding advanced to jeer again—only for a black swirl of demonic energy to lash around his throat and hoist him high off the ground.
Ling Qiansha said coldly, “If you encounter an Immortal Emperor, leave it to me. Otherwise, don’t bother me.” With that, the black energy vanished, and Qu Zhengding dropped back to the ground, trembling as he staggered two steps away.
The surrounding Demon Lords’ eyes flickered with newfound reverence. To command such confidence, could this lord of Qintian State truly have reached the Demon Emperor Realm? At the thought, their fists clenched. A Demon Emperor—truly atop the demon world!
Qu Zhengding rolled his neck, eyes wary. If even he, a half-step Demon Emperor, could not resist, this fellow must indeed be a true Demon Emperor. Well played, Qu Zhengding thought, then turned his gaze on Ye Yu. “Lord Ye, what about you? Why do you hold back?”
Ye Yu sneered, “Half-step Immortal Emperor comes to me.”
Qu Zhengding’s face contorted in disbelief. Ling Qiansha had the credentials to boast—but Ye Yu, merely Peak Demon Emperor Realm, had no right to such a claim! Qu Zhengding was about to erupt, but then a thought struck him—and he forced himself to grin. Alright, if he wants to mouth off, let him mouth off.
He cupped his hands. “Very well, Lord Ye—I look forward to seeing your prowess!”
Ye Yu said nothing, but mentally added Qu Zhengding to his “must-eliminate” list.
As time passed, the demon horde nearly all poured into the Heavens, catching the immortals off guard! Yet the Heavens’ defenders were no pushovers. They quickly organized a counterattack, and both sides clashed in fierce, chaotic battle.
The nine Demon Lords remained stationed around the portal’s outer rim, observing their subordinates through the “Moonlit Abyss” technique. When their forces encountered resistance, the Demon Lords would occasionally step in—and then return to their vigil, protecting the portal from sabotage.
No one knows how long it lasted before Ling Qiansha finally opened his eyes. From afar, two kilometer-long beams of sword qi thundered in, cleaving all demons in their path, yet pressing onward to strike at the Demon Lords themselves. Ye Yu raised an eyebrow. Such icy sword intent could only belong to at least a half-step Immortal Emperor. Had the Heavens’ top champions already begun to mobilize?
