Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 829 Defeating the Demon Clan, Taking Stock of Losses (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
"I will obey the sect master's decree!"

Tens of thousands of "Heavenly Demon Sect" cultivators echoed in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

They quickly formed a formation, and a massive demonic array that covered the heavens and the earth instantly took shape. Within the array, countless demonic phantoms roared, emitting a terrifying suction force that devoured everything, actively drawing in the surrounding demonic energy and even low-level demonic creatures to refine them!
At the most critical moment, the "Heavenly Demon Sect" still made the decision to live and die with "Heavenly Blue Star"!
This allowed Li Yunjing, who was in the center of the battlefield, to breathe a sigh of relief.

There have always been several hidden dangers on "Tianlan Star"!

Among them is the Demonic Sect!
The attitude of the "Heavenly Demon Sect" is unclear, and it has been marginalized by the "Heavenly Blue Alliance". Although the "Mysterious Nether Palace" has joined the alliance, its relationship with the outside world is unclear and it is not trustworthy!

Unexpectedly, the number one demonic sect in the world still made a decision that benefited "Tianlan Star," which made Li Yunjing very gratified.

Almost simultaneously, a burst of divine light shone brightly on the other side!
"The allied forces of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves are here!"

"Set up the 'Zhou Tian Subduing Demon Immortal Formation'!"

Strands of clear, ethereal light bloomed like lotus flowers, and groups of cultivators dressed in Taoist robes and feathered garments, their auras serene and ethereal, stepped out from the light.

They came from different blessed lands and had different methods, but at this moment their auras were connected and they were one.

Leading them were several lords of grotto-heavens, their auras profound and their bodies surrounded by Daoist charm.

"The demonic aura is overwhelming; how can the righteous path stand idly by?"

"Fellow Daoists, the day to subdue demons and defend the righteous path begins today!"

"Subdue demons and uphold justice!"

The celestial light converged, transforming into an even larger and more complex immortal array.

As the array patterns flowed, the power of the stars in the heavens was drawn in, transforming into countless purifying immortal lights and demon-subduing divine thunders, which swept across the most densely populated areas of the demonic tide like a plow sweeping through a cave!

Wherever the celestial light passed, the demonic energy melted away like ice and snow, and low-level demons turned into ashes in droves!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Heavy, orderly war drums, imbued with supreme majesty and iron-blooded ferocity, resounded from the core of the teleportation array.

Squads of soldiers, clad in standard golden heavy armor, wielding magical halberds gleaming with runes, and with solemn, cold expressions, marched out of the teleportation array with resounding, unified steps, like a golden torrent of steel.

They didn't shout or roar, but instead, an unyielding and indomitable spirit, as strong as a mountain, coalesced and soared into the sky!

This is the most elite legion under Emperor Huangze, the Huangze Imperial Guard!
The leader was a middle-aged general wearing golden Qilin armor, with a resolute face and sharp eyes. His aura had also reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage!
"Imperial Guards, advance!"

The general pointed his halberd forward.

"boom!"

Thirty thousand Imperial Guards stepped forward simultaneously, their movements perfectly synchronized, as if they were a single entity.

Runes on their heavy armor lit up, their auras connecting with each other, condensing into a massive golden spear beam that swept across the battlefield, piercing the surging demonic tide like a hot knife through butter!
Wherever it passed, no matter what level of monster it was, it was torn to shreds by the indestructible iron-blooded aura and sharp spear light!
They were like a golden dam, firmly guarding the most critical position of the defense line, remaining unmoved no matter how the demonic tide surged!
The three top forces have a combined strength of over 100,000, and all of them are elite!

Their arrival was like three anchors, instantly stabilizing the collapsing defenses!
The Heavenly Demon Sect uses demons to fight demons, devouring and refining them; the Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves use immortal techniques to purify and wipe out large areas; the Imperial Guards of the Imperial Ze Army advance with iron-blooded force, stabilizing the battle line!
The three parties cooperated seamlessly and managed to suppress and annihilate the Demon Lord and Demon Commander who had rushed into the defensive line in a short period of time!

The battlefield situation reversed in an instant!

"Reinforcements! They're our reinforcements!"

"It's the Heavenly Demon Sect, the Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves, and the Imperial Guard!"

"Kill them! Coordinate with the reinforcements and drive these monsters out!"

……

The morale of the fortress defenders soared, and they cooperated with the reinforcements to begin clearing out the demons that had stormed into the formation.

The core battlefield.

The spirits of the Sword Master of Taixu and Yu Chenzi were greatly lifted upon witnessing the Blood Demon Ancestor's breakthrough and the arrival of reinforcements!
They sensed that the long-standing bottleneck was on the verge of collapse under internal and external pressure!

"Can't wait any longer!"

Sword intent surged in the eyes of the Taixu Sword Master, and the power of "Sword Heart Seed Jade" was fully activated. He seemed to transform into an unparalleled divine sword that could split the heavens and the earth, and the Void Return Barrier shattered at the critical moment of life and death!

"Man and sword become one, following the natural way!"

"Return to emptiness, open!"

A fierce and unparalleled ultimate sword intent, seemingly capable of severing cause and effect and annihilating all laws, soared straight into the heavens!

The master of the Taixu Sword merged with the sword, transforming into an invisible and intangible yet omnipresent sword mark of "Dao," which once again slashed at the Void Demon God!
This sword strike has already been imbued with the power of the laws of the Void Returning Realm, its power more than doubled!

"Go all out!"

Almost simultaneously, Yu Chenzi and Tian Zhenzi exchanged a glance and activated the "Star Array Diagram," their Daoist auras completely merging with the entire "Zhou Tian Star Array" and even the star laws in the darkness!
"The stars are the chess pieces, and the heavens and earth are the board!"

"Return to emptiness, unite with the Dao!"

The two of them became incredibly profound and vast, as if they had transformed into the starry sky, and their words became law!
They no longer merely manipulated the formation, but became the core of the formation themselves, drawing upon the star power to transform into tangible chains of law. These chains no longer bound the demons, but directly collided with, neutralized, and even... altered the demonic laws surrounding the demon god!
Three top experts have entered the Void Returning Realm in a very short period of time!
For a time, the three peak Nascent Soul cultivators were no longer facing the Void Demon God, but three beings whose combat power was comparable to the Void Returning cultivators, and even more powerful due to their immortal artifacts and special states!

Add to that Li Yunjing, who was eyeing the scene with predatory intent and wielding multiple immortal artifacts, the "Nine Dragons Emperor Seal" controlled by Fairy Miaodan, and the Blood Demon Ancestor, who had just broken through and was wreaking havoc...

The Void Demon God is facing the greatest crisis since the start of the war!

"Roar! You...you deserve to die!"

It let out a roar of shock and rage, its massive body now bearing numerous wounds, its scales shattered, and its demonic lightning dimmed.

He could clearly sense that the threat posed by these three newly ascended Void Returners was far greater than that of those few immortal artifacts!
Because their power carries the recognition and blessing of this world, it is even more effective in restraining His demonic origins!

"Chaos Evolution Dao Token!"

"The laws are distorted!"

Li Yunjing seized the opportunity and finally brought out the token bestowed by Emperor Huangze!

The chaotic aura spread out, instantly disrupting the stability of the laws in a small area around the demon god, causing a very slight stagnation in its actions of mobilizing magical energy and distorting light for defense!

It's that slight hesitation!
"cut!"

The sword of Dao traces transformed from the Sword Master of Taixu silently pierced through the gaps in the defense and fiercely slashed into one of the most important compound eyes of the Demon God!
"Lock!"

The star law chains controlled by Yu Chenzi and Tian Zhenzi took advantage of the situation to wrap around and tightly bind one of the demon god's arms and half of his wing!

"swallow!"

The Blood Demon Ancestor's crimson avatar grinned maliciously, its enormous blood-red hand reaching directly for the core of the chest where the demon god's energy was concentrated!
"Boom!!!"

With a deafening roar and the demon god's agonizing and unwilling howl, His enormous body, which resembled a dark star, finally began to completely disintegrate under the combined attack from within and without, the constraints of His laws, and the continuous bombardment of several immortal artifacts!
Demonic blood sprayed like a waterfall, staining the starry sky black; shattered bones and scales flew everywhere; terrifying demonic energy exploded out of control, engulfing everything around in a vortex of destruction...

"Impossible... How could I..."

The core compound eye on His head, formed from countless resentful faces, which had been struck by the Taixu Sword Master, completely dimmed and shattered, turning a large area around it into chaotic nothingness.

The enormous hole in his chest, torn open by the Blood Demon Ancestor, was even more shocking, constantly emanating pure demonic essence, which was greedily devoured by the Blood Sea Dharma Image.

The dark red lightning that enveloped him became extremely unstable, flickering on and off, and he could no longer maintain a complete defense.

The chains of stellar laws controlled by Yu Chenzi and Tian Zhenzi were like red-hot branding irons, deeply embedded in His limbs and wings, constantly purifying and annihilating the demonic laws within.

"Roar!!!"

Realizing that continuing the fight would truly lead to their demise, the Void Demon God unleashed a final roar filled with resentment and bitterness.

He suddenly ignited the remaining primal magical energy, and a destructive power erupted from him!
"Watch out! He's about to self-destruct part of his demonic body!"

Yu Chenzi reminded him urgently.

"boom!!!"

Like a star exploding, a terrifying energy shockwave instantly swept across hundreds of thousands of miles!

The Dao Trace Sword of the Taixu Sword Master was forcibly forced back, the Star Chains shattered inch by inch, and even the Blood Demon Ancestor's Blood Sea Dharma Image was violently shaken, forcing him to temporarily avoid the sharp edge.

Using the immense thrust and chaos generated by the self-destruction, the Void Demon God's tattered and enormous body transformed into a shrill black streak of light, fleeing madly towards the massive dimensional portal from which it had come at an incredible speed!
Wherever it passed, demonic blood was spilled, and broken scales and bones fell like a meteor shower, its aura extremely weak.

The demon god... has fled!

This scene completely shattered the remaining psychological defenses of the demon army, which was still locked in fierce combat.

"The Demon God... has been defeated?"

"They've escaped! The demon god has escaped!"

"Impossible! This is impossible!"

……

Horror, despair, and disbelief spread like a plague among the demon army.

The demon lords and commanders, who were still launching a frenzied attack, froze in their tracks, and their offensive collapsed instantly.

"We won! The demon god has fled!"

"Counterattack! All troops, counterattack!"

"Chase down the demons! Leave no one alive!"

Conversely, the morale of the "Tianlan Alliance" allied forces soared to its peak!
Although the four newly promoted Void Returning experts, Taixu Sword Master, Yu Chenzi, Tianzhenzi, and Blood Demon Ancestor, had also suffered great losses and injuries, their momentum was unstoppable!

"Sword Pavilion disciples, follow me in pursuit!"

The Sword Master of Taixu mustered a burst of sword energy, which transformed into a sharp sword light, and he took the lead in giving chase.

"Array Pavilion, maintain the array's suppression and block the demons' retreat!"

Yu Chenzi immediately gave the order, and together with Tian Zhenzi, they manipulated the light screen of the "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Da Zhen" to move and close, attempting to cut off most of the demons' retreat.

"Hahaha! You little demons, where do you think you're going! You're all my prey!"

The Blood Demon Ancestor was the most excited, driving the "God-Slaying Chariot," causing the sea of ​​blood to surge, like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, specifically hunting down those powerful demon lords and demon commanders, leaving a trail of blood and carnage wherever he went.

"Heavenly Demon Sect, Myriad Demons Devour the Heavens, absorb them!"

Ye Wuyai grinned maliciously as he manipulated the sect's grand formation, frantically devouring the fleeing low-level demons and dissipating demonic energy.

"The Thirty-Six Heavenly Caves, with their purifying light, sweep away the demonic aura!"

Several celestial masters led the immortal formation, and the purifying light poured out like mercury, purifying the demonic energy and the demonic creatures within a large area.

"Imperial Guards, wedge formation, charge!"

Wherever the golden-armored general pointed his halberd, the 30,000 Imperial Guards transformed into an indestructible golden blade, piercing fiercely into the chaotic demon army, splitting and crushing it.

Li Yunjing also commanded 120 puppets to form the "Dutian Puppet Formation," which resembled a mobile fortress, patrolling the edge of the battlefield to specifically hunt down organized demon squads. He also used the "Chaos Evolution Order" to occasionally interfere with local areas, making it more difficult for the demons to escape.

The army was defeated like a mountain!
Having lost the leadership of their god and their will to fight, the demon army became nothing more than targets for slaughter.

They panicked and trampled each other in the void of the universe, wanting only to escape back to that distant dimensional passage as quickly as possible.

This chase lasted for three whole days, spanning millions of miles of starry sky!

Countless shattered demon corpses, destroyed demonic artifacts, and star fragments stained with demonic blood were left behind along the way.

The starry sky seemed to be raining down a black blood rain, with mournful howls and desperate roars lingering for a long time.

In the end, only about one-third of the remaining demon soldiers managed to escape back to the vicinity of the massive dimensional passage, thanks to the assistance of three other wounded Void Returning Demon Gods.

The Void Demon God was the first to escape, disappearing into the passage.

The remaining demon remnants, relying on the entrance to the passage, barely managed to form an array, living in constant fear and vigilance, no longer daring to take a single step out.

Outside the "Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals," the demonic energy was completely cleared away!
Although the corrupted star field still exists and the dimensional portal remains open, the direct threat from the demons has been temporarily eliminated.

The allied forces halted about a million miles from the entrance to the passage and regrouped.

The continuous high-intensity battles and long-distance pursuits have left everyone exhausted and unable to penetrate the heart of the demonic energy to completely eliminate the demonic threat.

After this battle, the main force of the demon race suffered heavy losses. One demon god at the Integration Realm was seriously injured and fled. Of the four demon gods at the Returning Void Realm, one died and three were injured. More than 70% of the core forces at the Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation Realm levels were lost, and countless low-level demons were also lost!
As for the "Tianlan Alliance", although it also paid a heavy price, with its defenses damaged and many cultivators killed or wounded, its high-end combat power achieved an amazing breakthrough, with three Void Returning Great Powers, and its morale and confidence soared to unprecedented heights!
"Clean up the battlefield, treat the wounded, and repair the defenses."

The Sword Master of Taixu issued the order; though his voice was weary, it carried an undeniable authority.

After this battle, his prestige as the leader of the sword cultivators rose to a new level.

The group accepted the order and began to work in an orderly manner.

Li Yunjing frowned slightly as he gazed at the distant demonic realm and dimensional passage that still exuded an ominous aura.

The demon race has not been eradicated, and the "Crimson Flame Realm" has probably been completely transformed into a demonic domain.

That is the true source of the demons' invasion.

"Crimson Flame Realm..."

He muttered to himself, sensing a terrifying aura emanating from the depths of the passage—a aura more ancient and subtle than that of the Void Demon God. He understood that this demonic calamity, which affected all realms, was far from over.

But at least, they bought "Tianlan Star" a precious breathing space.

Next, we must consolidate our gains, enhance our strength, and prepare to deal with the new wave of attacks from the "Void Demons"!
As for a counterattack?

Neither Li Yunjing nor the other senior executives had this idea!
With a command from the Sword Master of Taixu, the allied forces of the "Tianlan Alliance," who had been fighting for many days, began to retreat in an orderly manner to the "Burial Immortal Ancient Realm" fortress.

Inside the fortress, everything was already in ruins.

Many barriers collapsed, array nodes dimmed or even destroyed, the ground was covered with deep pits and scorch marks, and the air was filled with a heavy smell of blood and gunpowder, mixed with the groans of the wounded and the grief of fallen comrades.

Without much prompting, all the cultivators who still had energy immediately threw themselves into the intense post-war work.

Under the command of Yu Chenzi and Tian Zhenzi, the disciples of the Array Pavilion became the busiest group.

Like meticulous worker ants, they moved among the damaged base and nodes.

"The array base in the southeast 'Xunfeng' position is completely shattered and needs to be replaced with three core 'Void Crystal Stones' and five hundred catties of auxiliary material 'Flowing Cloud Gold'!"

"The array pattern in the northwest 'Gen Mountain' position has been contaminated by demonic blood and needs to be cleansed with 'Cleansing Dew' and redrawn with 'Star Sand'!"

"The main array eye, the 'Zhou Tian Xing Chen Yi,' has been impacted, and seventeen of its three hundred and sixty star apertures have shifted. It needs to be corrected immediately!"

……

Orders were issued one after another, and the massive resources urgently allocated from headquarters and captured in this battle were quickly distributed.

Brilliant spirit stones were embedded into the array's core, rare spirit ores were smelted and reshaped, and profound array patterns were re-engraved.

Countless cultivators used magical artifacts to transport materials, repair barriers, and clear ruins.

The entire "Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals" resembled a giant construction site, with all the array masters busily working in an orderly fashion.

In addition to repairing the original formations, Yu Chenzi further optimized and reinforced the "Zhou Tian Xing Chen Grand Formation" and the "Jiu Xiao Yun Dong Feng Lei Formation" based on his experience in this defense.

The area where Dan Pavilion is located is shrouded in rich spiritual energy.

Fairy Miaodan, her face pale, still personally oversaw the operation, directing the Dan Pavilion disciples and the medical cultivators who arrived later to do their utmost to treat the wounded.

"This fellow Daoist's internal organs have been corrupted by demonic energy. Quickly take the 'Demon Purification Pill' and dissolve it in the spiritual liquid, then use the Golden Needle Acupuncture Technique to clear the blockage!"

"Prioritize those with severed limbs! Prepare the Reattachment Ointment, supplemented with the 'Life-Creating Pill' for internal use!"

"Move those whose souls have been damaged to a quiet room, light the 'Soul-Soothing Incense,' and set up the 'Spirit-Nourishing Array'!"

……

Gentle healing spells rippled and shone, and precious elixirs were used as if they were free.

Joy and sorrow unfolded at this moment. Some seriously wounded were pulled back from the brink of death and wept with joy; others were too badly injured and their souls were destroyed. They could only sadly collect their belongings and mark their fall.

The work of providing compensation and relief is being carried out simultaneously.

The list of fallen cultivators was carefully verified, and their respective sects and families will receive generous compensation and posthumous honors from the alliance.

The most secluded caves in the core area of ​​the fortress have long been shrouded in powerful restrictions.

The four newly promoted Void Returning Grandmasters – Taixu Sword Master, Yu Chenzi, Tianzhenzi, and Blood Demon Ancestor – are in seclusion here.

Although they successfully broke through, their realms were not yet fully stable, and they all suffered considerable injuries during the final siege of the demon god, requiring time to recuperate and fully master the power of the Void Returning level. Inside the temporary council hall, Li Yunjing sat in the main seat, with the heads of various pavilions and representatives of various forces lined up on both sides.

"Vice Alliance Leader Li, according to the preliminary count, in this great battle, our army suffered a total of nine Nascent Soul True Monarchs, 473 Core Formation True Persons, and more than 40,000 Golden Core cultivators killed in action... not to mention the wounded."

A monk in charge of statistics reported in a somber voice.

The atmosphere inside the hall froze instantly.

Such casualties are truly devastating.

This is almost equivalent to the annihilation of five behemoth sects.

In addition to the losses from the first major battle, the Tianlan Alliance has already suffered losses of up to seven percent!

Such a tragic outcome is simply unacceptable.

It should be noted that on Tianlan Star, it is rare for a single behemoth sect to be destroyed in tens of thousands of years. The most recent one was the Youming Ghost Sect, which was destroyed by the Shenxiao Dao Sect!
Now, the two wars have almost amounted to the loss of eight or nine "Netherworld Ghost Sects"!
The fall of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, in particular, would be a huge loss for any sect.

"We must give martyrs a proper burial and ensure that their families receive adequate compensation."

Li Yunjing remained silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Their sacrifice gave my 'Tianlan' a chance to breathe; their achievements will be immortal."

The Shenxiao Dao Sect also suffered considerable losses in this great battle!
Because of him, although the Nascent Soul Realm True Monarchs were saved, the fall of the Nascent Soul Realm True Persons was inevitable, and more than thirty people have already sacrificed their lives!
As for the Golden Core cultivators, Li Yunjing didn't even dare to look at the list!

He doesn't know how many acquaintances he's lost just like that!

The cruelty of war is inevitable; it is never a matter of you killing someone and they not killing you!
"Yes!"

The person who reported responded.

"Regarding resource consumption,"

Another person in charge continued the report, "About 30% of the top-grade spirit stones have been consumed, and more than half of the reserves of various pills, talismans, and array plates have been used up. It is estimated that repairing the arrays and barriers will require about 20% more of the total inventory..."

"It's alright, the Emperor has already made it clear that the headquarters' treasury is completely open to us."

Li Yunjing nodded: "Immediately draft the required list and urgently transport the supplies via the teleportation array."

"Prioritize the repair of defense lines and the treatment of the wounded."

He spoke casually, but only the vice-leader level and those Supreme Elders at the Nascent Soul stage knew that the "Tianlan Alliance's" treasury had already lost 60% of its resources!

Of course, this doesn't mean that "Tianlan Star" has run out of resources!

Rather, the "Tianlan Alliance" has run out of resources!
The resources of the "Tianlan Alliance" mainly come from donations from many giant sects, as well as resources from the "Huangze Dynasty", plus contributions from countless other sects!

These forces still have more resources in their own hands, which they have not made available to the alliance.

Li Yunjing understood this as well!

After all, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" had been hiding a large amount of resources!
The immortal array taught by the ancestral master of the immortal realm has exhausted resources, and the wealth of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" must be used to supply itself first!

Everyone thinks this way, so let's not accuse anyone of being selfish!

There is no way around it.

"Preliminary count of spoils completed."

The cultivator in charge of taking stock of the battlefield stepped forward, his tone tinged with excitement. "A total of fifteen complete Demon Lord-level Demon Cores and more than thirty damaged Demon Cores have been seized; over a thousand Demon Commander-level Demon Cores; and a number of various Demon Clan specialty ores and spiritual materials, which are currently being appraised by treasure appraisers. In addition, several types of Demon Clan magical artifacts and rune structures that have never been seen before have been discovered and have been transferred to the Research Department for analysis."

These materials and knowledge from the extraterrestrial demons are of great significance for the "Tianlan Alliance" to understand the enemy and develop new means of countermeasures.

Li Yunjing listened to the reports one by one, gave instructions, and coordinated with all parties.

With a clear mind and decisive decision-making, he quickly sorted out the myriad post-war matters.

Seeing that he handled the situation properly, everyone became even more convinced of his abilities.

After the great battle, the power structure of the "Burial Immortal Ancient Realm" also quietly changed.

The four newly promoted Void Returners – Taixu Sword Master, Yu Chenzi, Tianzhenzi, and Blood Demon Ancestor – have undoubtedly become the most powerful figures in this place and even in the entire "Tianlan Alliance".

Although Emperor Huangze did not personally attend, his prestige and support remained a pillar of stability.

Li Yunjing's status rose rapidly due to his decisiveness at crucial moments, his control over the immortal artifact, and his ability to coordinate at this moment, making him one of the most powerful figures second only to a few Void Returning Great Powers.

Especially during the period when the Sword Master of Taixu and others were in seclusion, he practically took over the highest command authority on the front lines.

The Heavenly Demon Sect's courage in stepping forward in this battle earned it widespread recognition, and it began to truly integrate into the core of the Heavenly Lan Alliance, greatly increasing Ye Wuyai's influence.

This person is not the vice leader, but is basically the number one person below the vice leader.

After all, this is someone who has the potential to break through to the Void Returning stage!
In fact, Ye Wuyai really had this idea. He was originally the number one person in the demonic path, but the Blood Demon Ancestor broke through to the Void Returning Realm and trampled him down.

Logically, the Blood God Sect surpassed the Heavenly Demon Sect and became the number one demonic sect.

Since the Blood Demon Ancestor was able to break through his cultivation level by taking advantage of the great calamity, Ye Wuyai was naturally unwilling to fall behind, so he took the initiative to attack and start a war with the "Void Demon Clan".

Their goal is the same as that of the Blood Demon Ancestor: to break through their cultivation level!

Everyone else knew Ye Wuyai's purpose, and instead of being disgusted, they trusted him even more!
Firmly uphold your principles and never give up until you achieve your goal!

This is much more reliable than saying I love "Tianlanxing".

Top-tier cultivators possess unwavering resolve and are willing to pay any price to break through their cultivation realm.

Ye Wuyai was determined to break through to the Void Returning Realm, and he didn't even care about the lives of the disciples of the "Heavenly Demon Sect," so the alliance was naturally at ease.

This is arguably the best news available right now.

Of course, undercurrents still exist.

The threat of the demons has not been eradicated, and the distant dimensional portal hangs like a sword of Damocles.

The attitude of forces such as the "Xuanming Palace" remains ambiguous.

The distribution of interests and the balance of power among the various internal factions also need to be re-examined after the war.

Regardless, after this battle, the defenses of the "Burial Immortal Ancient Realm" became even stronger, and the surviving cultivators, having experienced the baptism of blood and fire, became even more united.

The emergence of four Void Returning Realm cultivators has given the "Tianlan Alliance" unprecedented confidence.

After finishing his urgent business, Li Yunjing walked out of the council hall and looked towards the distant star barrier that was being gradually repaired.

Beneath the temporary calm lies an even more urgent pressure to increase.

He must improve his cultivation level as soon as possible in order to control his own destiny in the potentially more brutal wars to come.

"Next time, we must be even stronger!"

He clenched his fists, his eyes resolute.

Then, he turned and walked towards his cave, where a vast amount of spoils awaited him to count and refine, and even more so, the Chaos Origin within the "Chaos Evolution Token" awaited his comprehension.

His cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage was too weak; he had to improve himself quickly in order to gain more benefits in the war!
Just as the "Tianlan Alliance" was busily repairing its defenses, treating the wounded, and healing its wounds, at the other end of the distant dimensional passage, in the "Crimson Flame Realm," which had been completely corrupted, an even deeper and more terrifying undercurrent was brewing.

"Crimson Flame Realm" was once a vibrant cultivation world that spread the Great Dao of Totems.

At this moment, all that can be seen is eternal darkness and deathly silence.

The eternally burning flames were extinguished, and the stars were corrupted by demonic energy, turning into dark and twisted demonic stars that emitted an ominous light.

The earth cracked, and the once majestic mountains and rivers were transformed into hideous demonic lairs and war workshops, where countless twisted monsters roared and multiplied.

The dense demonic energy was almost tangible, filling every inch of the void in the starry sky like a viscous black liquid.

Here, apart from the demons and their demonic servants who have been completely corrupted and transformed by demonic energy, there is no trace of any other living beings.

That enormous dimensional portal, like a dimensional scar, floated above the "Crimson Flame Realm," with demons coming and going everywhere.

The surface of the passage shimmered with magical light, like a giant vortex, constantly absorbing and releasing pure abyssal magical energy.

Below the passage lies a colossal demonic palace constructed from countless skeletons, vengeful spirits, and twisted metal, known as the "Void Demon God Palace."

At this moment, deep within the Demon Palace, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

The Void Demon God, who had fled back in defeat, had shrunk countless times in size, but still occupied most of the Demon Palace.

He lay prostrate in a lake formed of solidified demonic blood, his body covered in wounds, his broken scales yet to regenerate, and only a terrifying fleshy bud that was constantly writhing and trying to repair itself remained at the core compound eye that had been shattered by the Taixu Sword Master.

His aura was more than a hundred times weaker than it had been in its prime.

Before Him stood three powerful phantom demon gods of different forms, who were the three Void Returning Demon Gods who had come to the aid of the wounded soldiers.

Above that, several darker, more ancient thoughts, seemingly integrated with the demonic laws of the entire "Crimson Flame Realm," gazed indifferently down like cold stars.

"...That's how it is."

The Void Demon God's voice was hoarse and filled with humiliation as he gave a detailed report on the course of the battle in the "Ancient Realm of Burial Immortals," especially the situation of the four Void Returning warriors who suddenly appeared on the other side and the several troublesome immortal artifacts.

"waste."

A cold, emotionless ancient thought swept through the Demon Palace like a chilling wind: "Having expended so many resources to open up the passage, we still couldn't even capture a single forward fortress, and suffered heavy losses, bringing shame upon our race."

The Void Demon God's massive body trembled slightly, and it lowered its head even further, daring not to utter the slightest rebuttal.

"That world... 'Tianlan'... actually possesses such profound foundation and potential?"

Another thought, tinged with surprise and greed, arose: "To be able to create four Void Returners and multiple complete Immortal Artifacts in such a short time... it seems this is no ordinary Middle Thousand World. Its origin may be even more delicious than we anticipated."

"Based on the information from the fragments of the low-level demonic servants' souls that escaped, as well as the scattered intelligence previously transmitted back from the void,"

The third, more rational thought analyzed, "That world seems to be in a period of flourishing fortune, and it is not monolithic internally."

"This setback was largely due to our insufficient initial investment and underestimation of the opponent's potential to perform exceptionally well in dire situations."

"No matter what, this realm must be taken."

The initial cold thought carried an unquestionable determination: "Its world origin is enough to nourish many monarchs of my race, and may even give birth to a new ruler."

"The souls and flesh of its creatures are superior provisions."

"Their will to resist should be completely crushed as a warning to others!"

"Send the order!"

An ancient will issued a command: "Activate the 'Abyss Resonance' ritual, increase the energy infusion into this passage, and enhance its stability and passage efficiency."

"A second expeditionary force is urgently being mobilized from the three major demonic domains: the 'Rotting Swamp,' the 'Eternal Night Forest,' and the 'Lava Blood Pool'!"

"Order: The three, 'Soul-Eating Demon God,' 'Iron Spine Demon God,' and 'Thousand-Eyed Illusion Demon,' shall immediately travel through the stable passage to the 'Crimson Flame Realm' to take command and oversee all military affairs at the front."

"Yes……"

The three demon god phantoms that were named bowed slightly, indicating that they accepted the order.

Their aura was in no way weaker than that of the Void Demon God in its prime, and the "Soul-Eating Demon God" among them was even slightly stronger.

"Void!"

The icy thought finally landed on the heavily injured demon god: "Considering this is your first offense, and that we have ascertained some of the opponent's strengths and weaknesses, we will not strip you of your lordship for the time being."

"You are to be punished by surrendering 30% of your territory's resources to accelerate the legion's teleportation, and to atone for your crime by assisting the new commander in preparing for the third expedition."

"If we fail again, you know the consequences."

"I will obey the monarch's decree!"

The Void Demon God's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, "Your subordinate will definitely atone for his crimes and perform meritorious service, vowing to flatten the 'Ancient Realm of Burial Immortals' and wash away the blood of 'Tianlan'!"

"Go."

As the ancient consciousness faded, the pressure within the Demon Palace lessened slightly.

The Void Demon God dared not delay. Enduring the excruciating pain and weakness, he began to strip away thirty percent of his own wealth, transforming it into a torrent of pure demonic energy, which he then poured into the dimensional channel above.

At the same time, the entire "Crimson Flame Realm" seemed to be a huge war machine, starting to operate with unprecedented efficiency.

In the demon lairs scattered throughout the land, more and more powerful demons are being spawned and armed.

The enormous flesh-and-blood furnace roared as it forged all sorts of terrifying war weapons.

Reinforcements from other demonic realms began to converge continuously, using the "dimensional passage" as a transit point.

The shadow of the third demon invasion, like a constantly gathering thundercloud, has not yet erupted, but the destructive energy it contains has already alerted those with keen senses.

The breathing time that the "Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals" has gained is probably much shorter than expected.

Time flies, and ten years have quietly passed since the second demonic invasion.

These past ten years have been a crucial period of respite and development for the "Tianlan Alliance".

After years of intensive repair and reinforcement, the "Burial Immortal Ancient Realm" fortress has not only been restored to its former appearance, but its defense system is now far superior to what it used to be.

Under the leadership of Yu Chenzi and Tian Zhenzi, the captured demonic rune technology was integrated with the essence of their own formations, and multiple complex restrictions such as the "Nine Netherworld Demon-Suppressing Ring" and the "Starry Sky Reversal Illusion Array" were added, making the entire realm as solid as a rock.

The defending troops, having endured two fierce battles, were finally rotated out.

A steady stream of energetic and highly motivated new troops arrived from the "Tianlan Star" home planet via ultra-long-range teleportation array.

They took over from the wounded and exhausted frontline soldiers who desperately needed rest.

The four Void Returning experts, Taixu Sword Master, Yu Chenzi, Tianzhenzi, and Blood Demon Ancestor, had already ended their seclusion. Not only had their injuries been fully recovered, but their cultivation levels had also been completely stabilized.

Instead of returning to "Tianlan Star", they remained deep within the "Burial Immortal Ancient Realm", their auras merging with the entire realm's defenses, acting as a stabilizing force, deterring the distant demonic passage.

Their very existence is the strongest defense.

The first group of cultivators who remained on duty embarked on their journey home, carrying with them honor and exhaustion.

They need to return to their familiar sects and homes, to use time to heal the wounds of war, and to digest the lessons learned from the battles. Many of them have even touched upon the opportunity for a breakthrough.

The threat of the demon race hangs like the Sword of Damocles over the heads of all living beings on the entire "Tianlan Star".

The principle of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold" is not something only humans understand.

Over the past decade, those forces on "Tianlan Star" that usually remained hidden from the world or maintained a distant relationship with the human race have finally become restless.

The four seas surged with azure waves, and the roar of dragons shook the heavens.

The deep-sea royal family, led by the "Crystal Palace," dispatched an envoy to the headquarters of the "Tianlan Alliance."

Leading the group was a dragon prince with dragon horns on his head, dressed in a deep blue imperial robe, whose aura clearly indicated he was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.

They stated that the ocean is also part of "Tianlan" and are willing to mobilize a million elite sea creatures to form the "Hanhai Army Corps" and provide a large amount of aquatic spiritual materials to support the front line.

Several sacred sites of the demon race, such as the "Ten Thousand Demon Mountains" and the "Youlan Mountains," are filled with roaring demons and soaring evil energy.

Several ancient demon saints, who had ruled over a demon kingdom for countless years, emerged together.

Although they retain their original form and exude a terrifying demonic aura, their eyes are filled with wisdom and solemnity.

The demon race agreed to deploy their various demon beasts, skilled in attacking, stealth, and poison, to form the "Ten Thousand Demon Battle Formation," and to open up parts of the demon race's ancient lands for alliance cultivators to train and acquire resources.

The "Hundred Tribes of the Southern Wilderness" originated from the barbarian tribes of the endless forests, swamps, and plateaus of the south. Led by several high priests, they left their ancestral lands.

They are physically imposing, adorned with totems, and believe in nature and the spirits of their ancestors.

Barbarian warriors are individually formidable in combat, especially skilled in jungle and mountain warfare, and possess a variety of bizarre witchcraft spells.

They are willing to form a "coalition of a hundred ethnic groups" to defend their homeland.

In addition, some relatively rare intelligent races, such as the "Wood Spirits," "Stone People," and "Winged People," have also expressed their willingness to contribute their unique strengths.

Faced with these forces that took the initiative to approach, the leaders of the "Tianlan Alliance," headed by Emperor Huangze, were naturally pleased and willing to cooperate with all parties!
After a series of intensive negotiations and consultations, a "Covenant of All Races" encompassing humans, sea creatures, demons, barbarians, and other intelligent races was officially concluded.

The alliance clearly stipulates that the "Tianlan Alliance" is the core leadership in the fight against the demons, and all parties must obey unified command, contribute troops and resources, and share intelligence.

(End of this chapter)