Xu Nanqiao looked back in disbelief and saw Ye Yu, both hands braced on the Ye Huo Fenshiji (World-Burning Flame Halberd), gasping for breath. His cultivation robe had been charred into rags.
The exposed skin all over his body was veined with purple demonic patterns, giving off a strange, oppressive aura.
At this moment, the Ye Huo Fenshiji lay fully subdued in Ye Yu’s grasp, no longer flickering with flames.
As Ye Yu labored to calm his breathing, he studied the great halberd in his hand.
“Truly a supreme ancient demonic artifact,” he murmured. “Not quite on par with a Heavenly Dao Imperial Weapon, but nearly so.”
Its power far exceeded that of high-grade demonic Immortal weapons, and its roaring infernal flames could easily scorch one’s divine soul.
Ye Yu was very satisfied with his prize.
He sheathed the halberd, then approached Xu Nanqiao and said softly, “Thank you.”
“Ah? Um, you’re welcome!”
Xu Nanqiao blinked, then realized that his thanks were directed at her for helping secure this high-grade demonic Immortal artifact.
But that also meant their alliance was at an end.
Would Ye Yu really let her go?
Xu Nanqiao bit her lip and dared not move a muscle.
At that moment, a clamor rose in the distance.
Ye Yu and Xu Nanqiao turned to see dozens of demons being pursued by hundreds of Immortals—they were fleeing in this direction.
“Will you help them?” Xu Nanqiao quickly changed the subject, hoping to distract him.
Ye Yu nodded. “I suppose I will. I want to know what happened—how did a full demon army get driven back?”
Forming a hand seal with one hand, Ye Yu instantly seized control of the two strongest leading Immortals. They immediately turned on their comrades, slaughtering them in confusion.
The demons froze in shock, utterly baffled.
Xu Nanqiao was equally stunned. This gesture, and in such a short time—surely it wasn’t Dream Intrusion? Wait, it must be the Divine Demon Mind-Control Art! Ye Yu actually knew that technique?
She instinctively stepped back half a pace, looking at him with wary eyes, afraid he might seize her mind next.
Ye Yu didn’t notice her fear. He waved toward a nearby demon, and soon a Demon Lord Realm cultivator hurried over.
With a bow, the demon declared, “Ministry Official Yang Fan of Juque Prefecture pays respects to Demon Lord Ye!”
Before entering the Heavenly Realm’s passage, nine Demon Lords had stood at its threshold. In the Heaven Realm they had appeared out of thin air, so the demons under their banner naturally recognized them.
Ye Yu asked, “What’s going on? Juque Prefecture is strong—how did you get down to just a few dozen? What happened to the others?”
Yang Fan’s eyes reddened. He explained that their advance had gone smoothly at first, but then several Talisman Masters appeared, their power terrifying. In less than a moment they slaughtered nearly a thousand demons.
The Immortals soon regrouped and organized a massacre of the remaining demons.
Yang Fan considered himself lucky to have survived with his handful of followers. Along the way he had witnessed countless demons fall, and his heart was heavy. At the emotional climax, the burly demon began to weep.
“Demon Lord Ye, have you seen our lord, the Demon Lord of our prefecture? When we were in danger, we called for help—why did he not answer?”
Ye Yu’s expression grew awkward. That was a good question. Why hadn’t her Demon Lord come to aid them? Because he was dead. Killed by me.
Ahem—a blunt truth that would sting, so Ye Yu swiftly changed tactics. “Yang Fan, I saw your Demon Lord slacking off—fishing for resources for himself without caring about your lives. My suggestion is: from today on, choose a new Demon Lord for Juque Prefecture. I think you’d do an excellent job. Keep it up—I support you!”
“Alright, this isn’t the place to talk. You go on ahead; we’ll speak again later.”
With that, Ye Yu gave Yang Fan a gentle push backward.
Unaware of the truth, Yang Fan was completely dumbfounded by this spiel. He turned back incredulously to see Ye Yu once more flashing him the “keep it up” gesture!
The furrows on Yang Fan’s brow gradually relaxed. Perhaps Demon Lord Ye was right—Juque Prefecture did need a new lord!
As these demons departed, the Immortals’ slaughter ended. Only one peak Immortal Lord remained alive, grievously wounded and unable to continue fighting.
Seeing the cold determination in Ye Yu and Xu Nanqiao’s eyes, he dared not hesitate and fled the scene.
Ye Yu paid him no mind. Instead, he withdrew a communication stone from his storage ring and contacted his good brother Mogei Lian.
“Hey, how are things over there? Any Immortal counterattacks?”
In Ye Yu’s view, if even Juque Prefecture suffered such losses, Lotus Prefecture must be in worse shape. The fate of the other demons was secondary—what mattered was that Mogei Lian remained alive!
Unexpectedly, the stone crackled with a swift reply.
“Big Brother, I’m fine here! But I see the demons in the other prefectures are withdrawing—they’re heading back because they can’t reach their own Demon Lords!”
At Mogei Lian’s words, Ye Yu cast an embarrassed glance at Xu Nanqiao. About an hour ago she had warned him of the trouble if a Demon Lord died.
And now it was playing out exactly as she said.
Clearly, this chance to ascend to Heaven would end in failure. With everyone retreating, Lotus Prefecture alone could not hold out.
Ye Yu decisively ordered Mogei Lian to lead the demons of Lotus Prefecture back through the passage, all the way to the Demon Realm within half an hour.
“Got it, Big Brother. Oh, I forgot to tell you—I’ve captured an Immortal maiden, she’s very beautiful. You’ll love her!”
Mogei Lian’s voice brimmed with excitement.
Ye Yu only grew more embarrassed.
Xu Nanqiao whispered, “So Demon Lord Ye doesn’t like demonesses, but prefers Immortal maidens! I’m sure you’ll get what you want this time.”
Before Ye Yu could answer, a corpse dropped from the sky. Ye Yu and Xu Nanqiao dodged swiftly; once steady, they looked down—and discovered ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) the body was that of Ling Qiansha, Demon Lord of Qintian Prefecture!
