Junior Sister is skilled in subduing demons.

Chapter 234 The Old Leader's Final Charge

The howl of the Heavenly Demon arrived before its figure appeared. The dark clouds above Qiang City suddenly gathered, surging like ink waves. The next instant, a black shadow that blotted out the sun hovered in mid-air. The Heavenly Demon was dressed in a black demon robe, and demonic energy swirled around its body like a living thing. Its only exposed eyes were gleaming crimson, and wherever its gaze swept, even the wind seemed to freeze.

The Heavenly Demon was the commander-in-chief sent by the Demon Realm to attack the land of Bashu. Behind him were thirty-two Demon Lords, some transformed into giant pythons, others with three heads and six arms, each with a different form but all exuding a world-destroying pressure.

They stood on either side of the Heavenly Demon, their demonic energy mingling with the dark clouds, completely shrouding Qiang City in shadow. As the Heavenly Demon raised his hand, demonic flames danced in his palm, and his voice boomed like thunder: "Take Qiang City and slaughter all who resist!" Under the demonic might, the soldiers on the city walls felt suffocated; the destruction of Qiang City was imminent.

At the far end of the Heavenly Demon's ranks, General Black Python stood at the very back of the group like a lowly henchman.

Beneath the city walls, a massive army of warriors and demonic beasts surged in from the east, west, and north. The dark blue-green ranks stretched as far as the eye could see, their roars causing bricks and stones to fall from the city walls. This long-awaited all-out attack finally began under the oppressive power of the Heavenly Demon's appearance.

Atop the city wall, Chief Rimai leaned on his spear, his silver beard whipped about in the fierce wind. He gazed down at the ruins of Qiang city's streets and alleys, now reduced to rubble. The smoke from cooking fires, the children's laughter, the joyful songs of his people—all were now replaced by demonic fire and bloodshed. Tears welled in his eyes, but he forced them back, his gaze hardening with unwavering resolve: "My homeland cannot be destroyed like this!"

"Chief! The eastern city is under attack! The Ge people have breached the outer city and are advancing into the inner city!"

"The western defense line is about to collapse! There are too many demonic beasts, brothers, we can't hold on much longer!"

"The North City gate... the North City gate has been breached by demon soldiers!"

……

Battle reports came in like snowflakes, each one like a heavy hammer blow to the heart of the Japanese leader.

Lu Yuanzhao, the head of Qingcheng Mountain, wearing a Taoist robe, walked to his side with a solemn expression. His whisk was already stained with blood. "Chief Rimai, let's retreat! This time, the demon army is too powerful. They even brought thirty-two demon lords with them. We can't stop them at all! As long as we survive, we can take revenge in the future!"

Chief Rimai slowly shook his head, his fingertips tracing the engravings on the gun barrel—marks left from his youthful battles, each line a testament to the glory of protecting his people: "Sect Leader Lu, I am old, but Qiang City is my root, my people are my life. If I retreat, who will encourage the brothers? Who will guard this gateway to Sichuan?" His voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable resolve: "I will live and die with Qiang City!"

Lu Yuanzhao wanted to persuade him further, but the communication talisman in his arms suddenly lit up. He crushed the talisman, his face turning deathly pale: "Qingcheng Mountain... more than half of the Qingcheng Mountain disciples have died in battle, and the rest are still defending the mountain gate. The Emei disciples are trapped in the Misty Forest north of Qiang City and cannot come to their aid at all. Although Commander Lingjizi has arrived outside the city, he is entangled by the demon soldiers and cannot move an inch..." He paused, his voice even lower: "News has also come from Huangquan Valley that Zilingxuan, Yongga, and the others are still trapped and have not been able to break through."

“Yongga…” Chief Rimai murmured his son’s name, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by determination. He raised his hand and unfastened the animal hide armor at his waist, revealing his scarred chest. The soldiers beside him quickly stepped forward to help him put on the heavy armor. This armor had accompanied him in battle for decades, and the cracks on the plates had been repaired many times, but it still gleamed coldly.

"My entire life, from youth to old age, has been dedicated to fighting to protect my people." Chief Rimai walked to the edge of the city wall and shouted to the soldiers fighting fiercely below, "Today, even if Qiang City falls, we will die standing! I know you are all tired, but don't forget, behind us are millions of people from Sichuan! The longer we hold on, the greater the hope that reinforcements will arrive!"

He raised his spear, its tip pointing straight to the sky: "The demon soldiers and the Ge people must not set foot on the land of Bashu! We are the warriors of Qiang City, the shield of Bashu! Even if we shed our last drop of blood, we will defend this glory!" Hearing their old leader's shout, the soldiers, whose bodies had been exhausted, seemed to be filled with renewed strength, and they raised their weapons in response: "Defend Qiang City to the death! Protect Bashu!"

Chief Rimai nodded in satisfaction, then turned and walked towards the corner of the city. There, a divine beast with a fiery red body was lying on the ground, its single horn gleaming with golden light. It was his mount, the Qilin. The Qilin seemed to sense its master's determination, slowly stood up, its eyes burning with anger, and its breath scorching hot.

“Old friend.” Chief Rimai gently stroked the Qilin’s single horn, his voice tinged with tenderness: “From now on, we shall not return.”

"Awooo..." The Qilin let out a deafening roar, as if responding to its master's decision.

The leader of the Japanese army slung himself over his shoulder, gripped his spear tightly, and shouted down towards the city walls, "My men, follow me and kill!"

With its four legs propelled by the force of the impact, the Qilin charged down from the city wall like a streak of flame, crashing directly into the ranks of the demon soldiers. Wherever its single horn went, demon soldiers were sent flying, and scorching flames emanated from the Qilin, causing the Ge people to scream in agony.

Chief Rimai sat atop a qilin, his spear gleaming like a dragon emerging from the sea, each thrust claiming the life of a demon soldier. His silver beard was stained with demonic blood, yet it did nothing to hinder his movements; he seemed to have returned to his youthful days of conquering battlefields.

Lu Yuanzhao watched the departing figure of the Rimai leader with admiration in his eyes. He turned to the Qingcheng Mountain disciples and shouted, "Qingcheng Mountain disciples, listen to my command! Our old leader has charged ahead, how can we retreat! Follow me and kill!"

At this moment, Lingjizi also broke through the encirclement of the demon soldiers. With a wave of his whisk, several golden rays shot towards the demon soldiers: "For Bashu, fight to the death!"

The soldiers on the city walls could no longer contain themselves and rushed down to engage the demonic soldiers in a desperate battle. The streets and alleys of Qiang City were filled with the glint of swords and the deafening shouts of battle.

Although the demon soldiers continued to pour in, and the hope of victory was slim, not a single warrior retreated. They knew that every demon soldier they killed would bring greater safety to the people of Bashu behind them; as long as their old leader was still fighting, they would still have the courage to hold on.

The Heavenly Demon hovered in mid-air, watching the battle below with disdain in his eyes: "Humans, as insignificant as ants, dare to defy me?" He ordered the thirty-two Demon Lords: "Quickly finish this battle and take Qiang City!"

Thirty-two demon lords acted simultaneously, and demonic energy instantly enveloped the entire Qiang city.

The leader of the Rimai tribe felt the immense pressure, but he showed no fear. He patted the Qilin's neck and said, "Old buddy, let's fight again!"

The Qilin understood and sped up, carrying Chief Rimai towards the Demon Lord.

The last rays of the setting sun pierced through the dark clouds, bathing them in a poignant golden light, as if gilding this final charge with a tragic grandeur...