Li Tian Gang summoned an additional forty thousand from the two-hundred-thousand-strong army, adding them to the previously gathered ten thousand, to continuously supply energy to the Array.
Simultaneously, as the spirits of demons within the Array were activated, roars thundered out from it.
The demonic spirit that had previously merged with Li Tian Gang had already returned to the Array.
Now replenished with energy, it surged forth again, along with four other Unwithering Realm Great Demons.
They charged into the incoming tide of demons, heading straight for those from the Three Immortal Realms.
With the energy from the Array, they were in their peak state, attacking with ferocity and fearless abandon.
Soon, several Great Demons from the Three Immortal Realms were grievously injured and had to temporarily retreat behind the demonic tide, leaving their armies, led by Great Demons of the Heavenly Human Realm, to charge forward!
These demons relentlessly pressed on, suffering countless deaths and injuries under the savage offensive of the five demonic spirits.
More of the Three Immortal Great Demons formed formations, hunting down solitary demonic spirits.
Beyond these five Unwithering Realm spirits, there was also the spirit of a Demon King within the Array.
Now roaring forth, it targeted a Demon King stationed further from the defensive line.
This Demon King was actually the Dragon Lord, who had stepped forward as a vanguard sent by the Dragon Sect.
Carrying a bounty on his back, this was the moment for him to make a stand for the Dragon Sect.
He relentlessly attacked, aiming to destroy the Array and drain its energy, knowing that once the energy was depleted, the Array would naturally collapse.
At that moment, as the spirit of the Demon King enveloped him, the Dragon Lord revealed his true form, releasing a resounding dragon’s roar and engaging in battle.
The entire vast eastern defensive line had plunged into all-out war.
An immense tide of demons, countless beasts, and innumerable border warriors fighting back desperately, resolved to battle to the death.
Countless arrows fell like rain into the covering tide of demons, as dragons and phoenixes echoed between heaven and earth, with a firestorm raging overhead, akin to an epic myth.
Signal fires shot into the sky, reporting military intelligence from various locations.
Li Tian Gang hovered in the air, his expression dark and intense, overseeing the Array and commanding the whole situation.
He issued orders nonstop, maneuvering troops and deploying generals to reinforce key points.
After years of campaigning in Northern Yan, his study and understanding of war strategies and the structure of Arrays were extraordinary.
At this moment, using the soldiers from Yuan Camp to replenish the Array’s energy, he would occasionally call back the encircled demonic spirits, leveraging the Array’s power to extricate them and then send them to charge into another part of the battlefield, moving unpredictably.
Demons near the defensive line were suddenly overpowered by the blasting spirits, suffering heavy casualties and death.
“A mere Six Phases Star Formation thinks it can stop us!”
“Li Tian Gang, let’s see how long you can hold out!”
Outside the Array before Li Tian Gang, including an elder from the Great Void Realm and a young Demon King as well as two Demon Kings from the Dragon Sect, there were four Demon Kings!
And at both ends of the defensive line, there were two more, totaling six Demon Kings who had revealed themselves!
Boom!!
The four Demon Kings, with murderous intent on their faces, attacked at once, raining down terrifying assaults that shook the Array and scattered divine light across the heavens.
The golden light on the Array trembled, divine runes rapidly flickered like afterimages, absorbing and resisting their attacks.
Within the Array, with every strike from the four Demon Kings, the fifty thousand soldiers from Yuan Camp trembled, their faces flushed with blood.
Their entire bodies were cloaked in rainbow-like radiance, their Qi Force completely absorbed by the Array, transformed into power to resist the Demon Kings’ attacks.
The Six Phases Star Formation could convert their power into a catalyst, drawing upon the celestial forces of the stars and constellations, turning it into the mighty power of the Array.
Otherwise, relying solely on the power of fifty thousand people, the Array could not have sustained for even the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
“We must focus on one point!” said the Demon King who was an elder from the Great Void Realm.
His arms became withered, and new buds sprouted from his cheekbones; he was a Ten Thousand Year Vine Monster.
Upon his command, the other three Demon Kings immediately gathered and launched their assaults towards the spot he had indicated.
Seeing this, Li Tian Gang’s expression shifted subtly; he suddenly flipped the divine blade in his hand, stepping forward in quick succession, once again deploying his Martial Tao Extreme Meaning Skill.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
With each step, his aura surged tremendously; he fiercely slashed out a dazzling, moon-like blade of light.
The blade of light shot straight through the exterior of the Array, landing on the attacking Demon Kings.
The violent collision released a terrible energy, impacting the Array.
Although the Demon Kings’ attacks didn’t directly hit the Array’s focal point, being so close and compounded by the uncontrolled energy from Li Tian Gang’s shattered blade light, they also struck the Array, causing a formidable impact.
Splat! Splat! Splat!
Within Yuan Camp, many continuously spurted blood vehemently.
Some could no longer stand, their bodies swaying on the verge of collapse.
Even some of the higher ranked squad leaders were as pale as paper, nearly drained of all their Qi Force.
But their eyes were resolute, fixed on the Demon Kings outside the Array, filled with an indomitable killing intent.
This was the most elite army of the Li Family for hundreds of years.
In Yuan Camp, the most ordinary soldiers were elite compared to those of other armies.
Li Tian Gang’s expression was grim as his gaze swept around; he could see the packed dark tide at both flanks of the defensive line.
Such a massive demon offensive had only been seen a handful of times during the decade-long Northern Yan campaign, where demons typically infiltrated in small numbers, probing repeatedly, unwilling to risk substantial losses.
The Palace Master of the Holy Palace was clearly more reluctant to risk his forces.
But the Great Void Realm and the Dragon Sect seemed far more reckless.
“Send the order, open small gaps in the Arrays at some critical nodes, let some demons through, and have the Fazi Camp’s guards hunt them down to relieve the Array’s pressure!”
Li Tian Gang swiftly issued orders.
Li Fu nodded and hurriedly transmitted his orders in all directions.
At this moment, the four Demon Kings outside the Array made their move again.
They realized that although their attacks were being repelled by Li Tian Gang and could not be focused at one point, the damage suffered by the Array from their close-range charges was likewise immense.
“Let’s see how long you can hold out!”
Among them, a young Demon King from the Dragon Clan, with curved ox horns on his head, sneered:
“This time, we won’t let you summon the Martial Artists from the noble families of Liangzhou.”
Li Tian Gang’s heart sank; among the many orders he had issued earlier were ones to send messages to the various cities, mobilizing the city guards to join the battle.
There were also orders to gather the forces of those noble family Martial Artists.
After all, what is a noble family if the mountains and rivers are shattered?
If the border is breached and Demons encroach, those noble families would also be unable to withstand them.
“Activate the Nine Abyss Separation Fire Array!”
Li Tian Gang had an icy expression, his eyes like those of a deity observing fire, devoid of any emotion or fluctuation, unaffected by the words of the Demon Kings as he calmly issued one command after another.
His Divine Soul hovered in the air, overlooking the entire front line, and in the distance, he used beacon fire signals to assess the situation, as well as the War Eagles that kept coming back to his side to deliver messages.
These were Demonic War Eagles subdued and trained by the Li Family, not strong in attack but extremely fast, serving as messengers in this great battle, compensating for some of the precise messages that smoke signals could not convey.
Following his command, the runes on the Six Phases Star Array reversed, activating another Array to cover it.
With the combination of the two Arrays, the energy consumption of the Array spiked, but the Array also gained a terrifying offensive power.
In an instant, countless Demons charging at the Array were struck by the abruptly flashing crimson light on the Array, immediately bursting into flames.
Even some Great Demons in the Heavenly Human Realm were scorched by the Separation Fire, forcing them to retreat and desperately pat out the fierce flames on their bodies.
This fire was extremely terrifying, capable of burning the Divine Soul; if allowed to burn, even Heavenly Realm Demons would be directly incinerated!
With the activation of the Nine Abyss Separation Fire Array, the onslaught of the Demon tide was significantly alleviated, and their charging speed greatly reduced.
But within the defense line, the troops entered the most tense battle-readiness state, with countless soldiers in the camps supporting the Array, all straining every nerve to exert their full power.
“Hmph!”
Outside the Array, the four Demon Kings’ faces changed slightly. They snorted coldly and struck again.
The Array spewed out fierce Separation Fire, but while this fire had some effect on those at the Three Immortal Realms, it didn’t significantly impact the Demon Kings. They easily snuffed it out and continuously pounded the Array.
Li Tian Gang only occasionally unsheathed his sword, but separated by the Array and facing the four Demon Kings, the damage he could inflict was limited.
Surveying the battlefront, Li Tian Gang’s expression grew graver, knowing that at this rate, the Array could hold for at most half a day before the defense line would be breached!
If it were only the Demon tide, with the power of the Array and his command, he could minimize the impact as in the great battle of Northern Yan, dragging it into a war of attrition.
However, at this moment, the blows struck by these Demon Kings inflicted enormous damage on the Array. Every attack was more shattering than the charge of a thousand troops and horses, and it was focused at one point, causing stronger destruction and forcing the Array to mobilize more power for repairs.
Seeing that the four Demon Kings were still relentlessly attacking, Li Tian Gang’s eyes turned cold; he had to stop their concentrated attacks, or the Array would not withstand many more strikes before collapsing.
He was restrained here, unable to reinforce other parts of the front.
“Since you want to attack, then I’ll let you die!!”
Rage surged in his heart.
Then, his gaze fixed firmly on the Demons, as if driven to desperation, he roared and brandished his Divine Weapon, stepping out of the Array to fight.
The four Demon Kings saw Li Tian Gang finally losing his patience and smirked coldly, waiting for this very moment. Once the Array breaks, their Demon tide will surge forth unstoppable.
“Daring to come out, you’re seeking death!”
The few Demon Kings suddenly struck, seizing the opportunity to launch a fierce attack at Li Tian Gang.
Li Tian Gang took eight consecutive steps, holding his Divine Weapon, standing alone against the four Demon Kings; two of them were at the Defying Fate Realm, and the other two at the Tao Heart Realm, but his eyes were defiant and radiant, showing no fear.
“Just mere beasts, what else can you do except gang up?!”
Li Tian Gang’s words were contemptuous as he resolutely wielded his sword.
The four Demon Kings joined forces to block Li Tian Gang’s blade, shocked by its might. No wonder he was able to slay Feng Shan Jun—they realized that Li Tian Gang’s battle strength was indeed terrifying; among his peers, he would likely have no equal.
“The True Dragon of the Li Family is well-deserved. I’ll make sure you die quickly!”
The Great Void Realm vine Demon elder spoke.
“You think you can kill me? You are not worthy!”
Li Tian Gang roared angrily and suddenly lunged at him.
The vine Demon elder smirked, his body suddenly revealing its true form, rooting his feet into the ground, feeling as if they reached through heaven and earth, while his arms emitted countless tough branches and withered vines.
These withered vines were extremely tough, like Divine Weapons, lashing towards Li Tian Gang.
Yet more vines were transformed into a web-like trap, attempting to ensnare Li Tian Gang and limit his movements.
Li Tian Gang’s Divine Soul suddenly emerged behind him, his hands clapped together, and then he viciously slapped out a divine palm of fire, sweeping across and pressing down on the vines, which started to catch fire.
“Great Flame Luo Hand!”
He cried out loudly, waving his hands in consecutive palm strikes, stirring the heavens and earth. Against the fierce assault of the four Demon Kings, he managed to hold his own for the time being.
The more the four Demon Kings fought, the more startled they became. They had heard that Li Tian Gang had single-handedly faced more than ten Great Demons of the Three Immortal Realms during the great battle of Northern Yan and had cut down half of them. The rumors, it seemed, were true.
Now stepping into the Four Stands Realm, although it’s only the first step of the Tao Heart Realm, the opponent already has the invincible aura of the Tao Heart Realm!
Even the two of them, Demon Kings of the Defying Fate Realm, were temporarily suppressed by the might of Li Tian Gang.
But they could see that the opponent had unleashed Unwithering Strength, an endless outpour of energy, which could not be sustained for long.
Using Unwithering Strength so early, the opponent was likely counting on the protection of the Array, to use it early and rest early to recover.
“Kill him, don’t let him get back to the Array!”
The Demon Art old man bellowed.
He exhaled a mist-like Demon Art, enveloping Li Tian Gang.
Despite its earlier resolution, any influence it could cause was worth the effort.
The other two Demon Kings, however, made their way to the Array, sealing off Li Tian Gang’s retreat.
At this moment, Li Tian Gang was like a lion emerging from its den, roaring mightily, his ferocity unstoppable, but once his Unwithering Strength waned, it would be his time of death!
Another elder of the Longmen in the Defying Fate Realm also burst forth with true power at this moment, revealing his true form with small horns on his head curved like bull’s horns, which, as his true form appeared, turned into much larger and more twisted sharp horns, exuding a fierce and malevolent aura.
He was not a True Dragon, but his shape resembled a dragon’s, except that on his back was an extremely long, fin-like spine.
“Roar!”
He let out a roar and charged toward Li Tian Gang through the grey mist.
A parasitic seed rested on him, given by the Demon Art elder, allowing him to see clearly within the grey misted Demon Art and remain unaffected.
In the midst of the mist, Li Tian Gang was slashing wildly in all directions like a headless fly, losing his sense of direction.
However, as the dragon-shaped Demon King made his move, Li Tian Gang seemed to suddenly realize something and fiercely slashed a blade light towards the Array.
He then broke through the misted Demon Art and fled towards the Array.
“Don’t even think about escaping!”
The two waiting Demon Kings quickly made their move.
The young Demon King who had previously missed his strike, allowed Li Tian Gang to escape, saw his chance and charged with all his might, roaring fiercely.
But Li Tian Gang did not avoid the attack, colliding directly with him, and then brutally slamming him into the Array.
However, the young man wasn’t stopped by the Array and went straight through it, as if through a membrane, passing through the Array.
When the golden light of the Array went from behind to in front of his eyes, the young Demon King was momentarily stunned, feeling a brief sense of weightlessness.
But in the next instant, he realized something, looked down, and saw a black Array command attached to his chest.
Li Tian Gang had two Array commands on his person!
At that moment, he was embraced by Li Tian Gang and bumped into the Array.
The good news was, he had broken through the Array.
The bad news was, he was the only one who had.
The young Demon King’s pupils contracted, immediately feeling terror at being trapped in a lone Array, a situation of extreme danger!
Not to mention that the Li Tian Gang before him was extremely vicious.
“You!”
He roared in shock and anger, and without hesitation, he released his true form in an instant, his demonic aura surging out like reverse blood, wielding his sword to slash at Li Tian Gang.
Li Tian Gang quickly snatched back the Array command from his chest, sneered coldly, and sudden flashes of divine light burst from his eyes as he roared:
“Die!!”
With a bang!
His hands covered in divine flames, the Great Flame Luo Hand directly acted on his arm, unleashing a heaven-startling slash with the ferocity of his power.
Xing Tian Blade, second form!
The terrifying blade threatened to uproot nearby military tents, with lightning-flash brilliance and flames slashing fiercely across the transformed young Demon King.
The sword light shattered, and the young Demon King let out a piercing roar, but his body was overwhelmed by the blazing blade light, cleaved in two!
A Demon King of the Tao Heart Realm was not even a match for him!
Although he was exerting nearly his strongest power at the moment, this strength also greatly startled the three Demon Kings who were outside the Array attacking frantically.
From the torn remains, fire flared up, the Martial Tao Extreme Meaning of the Great Flame Luo Hand realized.
A Divine Soul panicked and flew out from within, unprotected by a body, relying only on the power of the Divine Soul, he did not hesitate to burn his Divine Soul to flee into the distance.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Li Tian Gang strode forward in pursuit, the divine blade left his hand, slashed swiftly under his command, and cleaved the Divine Soul.
The young Demon King’s Divine Soul let out a piercing scream, its demonic sound vibrating, causing soldiers within several kilometers of the battlefield to feel their blood churn, some bleeding from their mouths and noses, tears of blood flowing from their eyes.
“Li Tian Gang, even as a ghost, I will not make it easy for you!!”
The young Demon King’s Divine Soul let out a desolate roar, in desperation, and suddenly caused a torrential downpour from the heavens. The rain fell like numerous swords piercing through the military camp.
And his own Divine Soul withered rapidly.
Boom!
The blade light struck down, killing him.
In an instant, Li Tian Gang had killed two Demon Kings.
“Li Tian Gang!!”
The three Demon Kings outside the Array were all outraged, roaring furiously, especially the Demon Art elder.
Li Tian Gang, however, seemed not to hear, catching the divine blade first to block the raindrops.
At that moment, those raindrops were piercing through the military camp, numerous soldiers within the formations were pierced and died on the spot.
Some were within the Yuan Camp, these Yuan Camp soldiers were exerting their full power to the Array, utterly defenseless and without spare strength for protection, and as they faced death, they injected their power into the Array even more vigorously.
With their own bodies resisting the Demon King’s final assault, they were instantly pierced by the raindrops and burst into a splatter of flesh.
The companions bursting and shattering beside them, the remaining soldiers of the Yuan Camp trembled slightly but nobody attempted to dodge.
“`
Their power merged with the array, fully aware of the great impact the array was enduring; there was no room for error.
Li Tian Gang wiped away nearly half of the rain’s assault and witnessed the grievous destruction still surrounding them. He looked troubled, and though they had slain the Demon King, the cost was heavy; at least a thousand had perished.
In terms of sheer numbers compared to the Demon King, one could say it was a bloody profit.
But these were soldiers who had shared life and death with him, comrades with whom he had charged into battle.
His eyes reddened slightly as he turned to glare at the three Demon Kings.
Now, with one less Demon King attacking, the pressure on the formation from the simultaneous assault of the three Demon Kings was slightly reduced from before.
Li Tian Gang’s Unwithering Strength had also been depleted, and fatigue swept over him; he needed to recuperate.
He swiftly took a handful of elixirs from his own space and stuffed them into his mouth, rapidly swallowing them. They were all extremely precious treasures that helped him quickly recover his condition.
“Li Tian Gang, you seek your own demise!”
The vine Demon elder’s eyes seemed like shooting flames, and his contorted face sinisterly focused on Li Tian Gang, “Do you really think you can defend Liangzhou? Who do you think you are?! Do you know that the great elder from the Dragon Gate has also arrived but is not in the eastern domain? Guess where he might go?!”
Upon hearing this, Li Tian Gang’s pupils shrank—great elder from the Dragon Gate?
That was a being from the Ultimate Study Realm!
There was a significant gap between the Defying Fate Realm and the Tao Heart Realm, but one could still engage in battle and kill with various cultivation techniques and the Martial Tao Extreme Meaning Skill.
However, the difference between the Ultimate Study Realm and the Defying Fate Realm was like that between the Four Stands Realm and the Three Immortal Realms!
Any being from the Ultimate Study Realm was close to the pinnacle of combat strength of the Dayu Divine Dynasty!
His heart pounded violently as he looked at the two Dragon Gate elders beside him, realizing that the opponent was not making empty threats; it was very likely true.
Still, his expression remained impassive and frosty, not letting the enemy see his thoughts nor sway the spirit of his troops.
“What of the great elder? Should he come, he’ll just meet his death!” he said.
The vine Demon elder laughed mockingly, “Do you think you’re qualified to say that? If you hadn’t hidden your cultivation level, thinking you were just a trash from the Three Immortal Realms, would the great elder have even bothered with the absence of interest to come to the eastern domain?!”
“If you had revealed your cultivation sooner, you would be dead by now!”
“With this array, how many attacks from the Dragon Gate great elder can you withstand?!”
“But don’t worry, the great elder has gone elsewhere to seek food. I heard your son is at the Heavenly Gate Pass in the south? Haha, later the Dragon Gate great elder will let you and your son reunite in his belly!”
He burst into laughter.
Li Tian Gang’s pupils constricted, and his gaze grew even colder:
“Trying to disturb my thoughts? There are no cowards in the Li Family; do you think by saying this, I will head to the south?”
“Whether you go or not, the outcome will be the same.”
The vine Demon elder’s eyes were fierce as he said, “I didn’t plan on being serious at first, thinking you were just trash. Believing that we alone could easily sweep this place clean, but since you’re so uncooperative, then you’ll have to witness the true power of the Great Void Realm for yourself!”
As his words fell, figures whizzed through the skies from behind him.
Li Tian Gang focused his gaze and his pupils dilated sharply.
One, two, three… seven!
All of them were Demon Kings!
It was said that when the Great Void Realm secluded itself from the world, there were five elder Demon Kings. Now, unseen for a millennium, their numbers had surged!
Although the Dayu Divine Dynasty had always sent Shadow Guards to investigate the movements and intelligence of the Great Void Realm, they had only managed to find out about seven. Including this vine elder and the young Demon King they had just slain, the real count was nine!
And now, all of them had come!
“It seems the world has long forgotten the fame of the Great Void Realm.”
The seven rapidly approaching figures each radiated different auras—some dark, some bright as the blazing sun, and some like elusive shadows, unfathomable.
At this moment, one of them—a noblewoman in a long dress adorned with a pink flower on her forehead—looked indifferently towards the array. Her gaze swept over and quickly noticed the absence of one figure beside the vine elder.
She seemed to sniff out something, her expression changing subtly as she looked towards the center of the array. Immediately, she spotted the giant corpse of the young Demon King, now revealed in its true form.
“Yin Kui!”
“`
The noblewoman burst out with a piercing scream.
This cry, like a malicious roar, spread in all directions, her originally snow-white delicate, nation-overthrowing face now twisted by anger.
“You dare kill my son!!”
That young Demon King, he was her child!
A Demon King, giving birth to another Demon King.
From this, one could surmise just how fearsome the noblewoman-looking lady was, a Demon King who had cultivated for untold years!
Li Tian Gang’s face changed slightly, recognizing at a glance that the other party was one of the earliest elders in the Great Void Realm, known as Ms. Yin.
She carried the ancient True Dragon bloodline of the Great Yin Luminous, and it seemed to be a direct bloodline at that, extremely terrifying.
What was even more terrifying, this was most likely a Demon King of the Ultimate Study Realm!
“Ying Teng, is this how you look after my child?!”
Ms. Yin looked angrily at the old vine demon.
The vine demon elder’s face changed slightly, and he hastily said, “This old servant admits his guilt. It’s all because this youngster is too cunning, luring the young master into the array.”
“Shut up!”
Ms. Yin angrily slapped down, the loud sound of the slap branded across his face.
The vine demon elder’s body swayed and flew out more than a dozen miles, breaking his neck bone.
But he was a vine demon, and soon twisted and crawled back, looking at Ms. Yin with a trembling expression: “This old servant accepts his punishment, please Madam, calm your anger.”
“I’ll deal with you when we get back!”
Ms. Yin’s gaze, however, fell upon Li Tian Gang inside the array, her once beautiful face now twisted and fierce as she said, “You must die! Your entire Li Family must die!!”
Li Tian Gang’s heart grew tense, and he urgently yelled, “Shift the array, take back the Nine Abyss Separation Fire Array!”
The runes on the array rapidly reversed, the Nine Abyss Separation Fire Array was taken back, and the array no longer possessed the power to attack and kill, but was fully defensive.
“A mere Six Phases Star Formation, you think it can stop me?!”
Ms. Yin shrieked, her fingernails grew rapidly, and suddenly a black hole-like shadow emerged behind her.
This was unmistakably the phantom of a black moon.
At that moment, she raised her hand and swung it fiercely, the black moon phantom crashing violently toward the array.
Pupu pupu!
Within the array, the fifty thousand soldiers of the Yuan Camp almost simultaneously spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and a third of the soldiers fainted on the spot, their eyes turned white, blood flowing from their seven orifices, already breathing as if hanging by a thread.
The array oscillated, the divine runes on it flickered into phantom light, bursting forth endless divine radiance, barely holding off the attack.
“Break for me!!”
Ms. Yin roared, attacking over and over.
The black moon phantom struck rapidly, with each hit, more of the remaining Yuan Camp soldiers fell, and those left also spat out blood.
Li Tian Gang’s pupils contracted, his body turned ice-cold. The Great Void Realm had emerged in force, completely beyond his expectations.
Did they not fear that the true personages of Gan Tao Palace would strike out, annihilating them all?!
“Quick, notify Gan Tao Palace!”
“Notify the other Divine General Mansions, in the name of the True Dragon, send the Eight Directions Order and summon their families’ powerhouses to come for reinforcement!”
Li Tian Gang roared urgently.
Under his watchful eyes, the array trembled unsteadily, its divine light rapidly dimming.
As the six other elders of the Great Void Realm made their move simultaneously, finally, with a loud bang.
The array shattered completely!
Qingzhou City, Heavenly Origin Divine General Mansion.
Inside the mansion’s council hall, the ladies from various households gathered, all except for Shuihua Courtyard.
These ladies had in their hands the connections their husbands had previously established. If their husbands had joined the military, then the original camps they commanded, though now under Li Tian Gang’s leadership, still maintained their own networks and influence.
Now, a message from Liangzhou had arrived, delivered over thousands of miles through a secret technique.
This was the Eight Directions Order that was only used when a state was deeply embroiled in a blood battle and desperate situation. It could reach its destination across thousands of miles, surpassing the normal speed of military reports and letters, crafted by the Heavenly Observatory and containing a special array.
Whenever the Eight Directions Order appeared, it meant that the lives of many were suffering, and it also meant that the offspring of godly generals would fall!
“Elder sister, did it come from Tiangang? What exactly is the situation in Liangzhou?”
Of the many ladies there, Gao Qingqing was the most anxious at the moment, with tears welling up in her eyes, almost crying out in her urgency.
Twenty years ago, an Eight Directions Order was also issued from Heavenly Gate Pass. That time, it was the Li Family’s third son who had fallen, and the Heavenly Gate Pass was nearly lost, making it no surprise that she was in such a state of anxiety now.
She worried that her own husband would suffer the same fate as those before him.
“Could it be news from Cangzhou?”
Wang Xiangru furrowed her brows. Currently, Li Fenghua was in charge of defending Cangzhou, but ever since Li Junye cleared all demons from outside of Cangzhou over a decade ago, there hadn’t been any major incidents there.
However, with demon attacks, one could never tell. Sometimes they came suddenly, without any prior intelligence.
He Jianlan’s expression was solemn. After reading the message carried by the order flag, she turned to Li Muxiu next to her and said,
“Uncle, Tiangang says that Liangzhou is trapped in a dire situation, with beings from the Great Void Realm intruding into the world. Longmen and the Holy Palace have teamed up and committed to the battle, vowing to engulf Liangzhou.”
Hearing her words, Li Muxiu’s eyelid twitched.
He immediately realized that the emergence into the world of the Great Void Realm, which had been reclusive for a thousand years, was an extremely bad sign.
It seemed like some kind of omen.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangru immediately relaxed a little, her expression calming down.
However, Gao Qingqing’s face turned deathly pale in an instant. Li Xuanli was in Liangzhou, serving as the supreme commander of the military, at the forefront of the conflict. If Liangzhou was in danger, he couldn’t run away; even if it meant death, he would die there!
As a son of the Li Family, as a descendant of a divine general, how could he possibly abandon the billions of people in a great state and flee like a deserter?
This was the tribulation etched in the bloodline of the Li Family!
Childhood friends turned lovers never contemplated such things. It was only after marrying into the Li Family that she truly understood the heartache and desolation of the Li Family’s sons.
Gao Qingqing sat on a chair, barely able to keep her balance, trembling violently.
Seeing her like this, the other ladies remained silent.
There were times when they had felt the same way.
At this moment, they all thought of their own fallen husbands, their eyes filled with sorrow.
“Are they not afraid to die, to have the real ones come and trample them down?” Lady Lou Wanqing questioned with doubt.
“I will set off to Liangzhou at once,” Li Muxiu said.
He Jianlan shook her head and immediately replied, “Tiangang’s command came only to inform us of this matter, not to call for reinforcements, especially asking you, uncle, to absolutely stay in Qingzhou and not go.”
“Why is that?” Gao Qingqing exclaimed in shock.
Li Muxiu was startled and suddenly thought of something, his expression changing subtly.
“Tiangang said that he fears the demons dare to attack in such large numbers without guarding against my second uncle, it is very likely that besides Liangzhou, there might be a demon king of the Great Void Realm outside Qingzhou, or even their sect master!”
He Jianlan said gravely, “Once second uncle leaves, they might immediately invade Qingzhou, and their target will be directly our Divine General Mansion.”
Li Muxiu’s face turned somber, as he had already realized this point.
The fifth alone might not be able to hold them back, even though the Divine General Mansion has its arrays, and so does Qingzhou, it would take some time to breach them.
But if he went to Liangzhou, traveling at full speed, it would take two days to get there and back.
After all, he would need to conserve some strength to join the battle upon reaching Liangzhou. He couldn’t possibly travel at his utmost limit speed for instant relocation.
“How did this…”
Gao Qingqing’s face was devoid of color; she had thought it was a plea for assistance, but instead, it turned out that Li Tiangang was asking her second uncle not to send reinforcements.
“What about Liangzhou then? Are we just going to watch it perish, wait for death?” she couldn’t help but say.
He Jianlan knew her feelings and that consolations were useless at this moment. He simply said calmly:
“Qingqing, don’t panic just yet. Tiangang has passed the order to the other Divine General Mansions, and that real person from Gan Tao Palace must have received it too, as would Mount Wuliang most likely. Under the command of the Eight Directions Order, even if there were some differences in the past, they ought to send reinforcements!”
“If they can spare one or two of the older generation to take action, Liangzhou might still hold steady.”
Upon hearing these words, Gao Qingqing’s trembling and constricted heart stabilized slightly, but her body still felt ice cold.
“I will send a message to my second sister and fourth sister to see if they have a chance to go and reinforce.”
Li Muxiu said after a moment of silence.
Those two were married women, halfway out of the Divine General Mansion, with their own husbands and powers.
As direct descendants of the Divine General Mansion, they had no weak lineage; although not in the Four Stands Realm, they were both at the peak of the Three Immortals.
In such a dire situation, it was somewhat embarrassing to trouble them to risk their lives, but given the dangerous circumstances, he had no choice.
“Can we write to that Fifth Grandmother?” asked Gao Qingqing suddenly, coming up with the idea.
That Fifth Grandmother was from the older generation, whom even Li Muxiu had to call aunt.
She had long since retired to live the life of a commoner.
In her earlier years, she was a famous female general who had slain countless demons, much like the current Li Hongzhuang.
Li Muxiu fell silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll try.”
Having said that, he stood up and left.
He Jianlan sighed softly without saying a word.
“I will write to my father,” said Lady Ninth Jiang Xian’er.
She was only betrothed to Li Junye, and after his death in battle, she voluntarily married into the Divine General Mansion holding his armor. Over the years, she had devoted herself to handling all sorts of affairs within the mansion.
He Jianlan looked at her gently and said, “We are too far from Dayu State, and sending a letter now would be too late. If that real person has received the Eight Directions Order, let’s see what he decides.”
“We must still try. Though reinforcement is late, if they can arrive, they might make a difference,” Jiang Xian’er said earnestly.
Hearing this, He Jianlan did not try to stop her anymore.
…
…
Mount Wuliang, Brahma Pure Land World.
Deep within the mountain peaks of the Spirit Mountain, Lin Wujing arrived at this pure land carrying a Zijin-colored Eight Directions Order flag.
The Zijin light tore through the sky and illuminated the Brahma Pure Land, seen by countless people.
“Infinite Buddha Lord, it is an Eight Directions Order flag from Liangzhou, urgently requesting aid!”
Lin Wujing first paid his respects to the Buddha Lord before speaking in an unhurried manner.
Sitting on a lotus platform, the Infinite Buddha Lord had a gentle and compassionate demeanor. He gently moved his fingers, and golden mysterious patterns seemed to flicker in his eyes. After a moment, he said:
“I am aware of Liangzhou’s catastrophe; it also signifies that the karmic fire, suppressed by our Dayu Divine Dynasty for three thousand years, is finally about to burst forth.”
“Infinite Buddha Lord, what do you mean?”
“Slaughter, murder, indulgence, lust… greed, anger, delusion, all are turbid in this golden era. As time turns, karma cycles, this catastrophe cannot be avoided.”
The Infinite Buddha Lord said slowly: “Behind the demon scourge of Liangzhou, there stands a great calamity; one must not act rashly.”
Lin Wujing’s expression changed slightly, realizing something.
The Infinite Buddha Lord turned to another Bodhisattva seated next to the lotus platform and said softly, “Miao Shan, take the order flag and go pacify the demons in Liangzhou.”
“Yes, Infinite Buddha Lord,” the Bodhisattva responded, her demeanor calm and tranquil as she bowed her head.
“Remember, a Bodhisattva is compassionate, rescuing the world, not the suffering.”
“The sea of suffering is boundless, all due to one’s own sins; only the true Buddha can ferry one across.”
The Infinite Buddha Lord said softly.
The Bodhisattva instantly understood his intention and nodded.
To rescue the world is to spread goodness; to rescue the suffering is to step into the sea of suffering oneself, pushing and assisting the boat.
The words of the Buddha, one must reflect and understand.
…
…
Zijin light streaked across the sky above Liangzhou, too fast for even those in the Four Stands Realm to intercept.
This was the light of the Eight Directions Order flag; by the time you saw the Zijin light flash overhead, the actual flag had long passed thousands of miles away.
At this moment, in the eastern part of Liangzhou.
With the combined force of Mrs. Yin and many Demon Kings, that concentrated power erupted, and the impregnable array finally shattered!
The moment the array broke, the fifty-thousand soldiers of Yuan Camp were struck down unconscious. Some of the soldiers with lower Cultivation Levels perished on the spot, their heads buzzing as their Divine Souls floated out from their bodies.
Li Tian Gang’s pupils constricted as he watched the shattered golden light of the array, the collapse of countless divine patterns, and at that moment, the entire eastern defense of the region was truly lost!
The countless demons of the demon tide saw the shattered golden light and let out bloodthirsty, excited roars, rushing forward in a frenzy.
The pressure on the defensive line surged drastically. Countless arrows and attacks sank into the demon horde like stones into the ocean, instantly engulfed.
As the entire defense line bore tremendous pressure, in front of Li Tian Gang, including Mrs. Yin and other Great Void Realm Demon Kings, as well as the vine demon elder and those two Dragon Gate Demon Kings, a total of ten Demon Kings had their gazes uniformly fixed on Li Tian Gang.
“Li Tian Gang!!”
Mrs. Yin’s eyes were fierce and chilling, her face cracked open, revealing a trace of her true form. Near the edge of her cheekbones, a greenish eyeball opened.
“Die!!”
She suddenly raised her hand, and a gust of claw-shaped wind whistled past, swelling in the wind to become hundreds of feet large, as if to tear the entire city wall apart!
Li Tian Gang’s complexion changed dramatically. The medicinal pill he had taken earlier had already released much of its power. He swung his sword in fury, but the blade’s light was covered by the claw. With a bang, he was violently thrown backward, slamming into the ground and creating a deep crater.
The violent impact, even fortified by his armor and his Indestructible Treasure Body, still caused him to spit out a large mouthful of blood.
“Marshal!”
Yu Xuan and Li Fu, along with other deputy generals, saw this and cried out anxiously, rushing over.
“Don’t rush; you’re all going to die!”
At this time, the vine demon elder and other Demon Kings also floated into the fray, stepping into the airspace of Liangzhou in the eastern region!
Yu Xuan looked up; ten Demon Kings hovered in the air like ten fierce suns shaking the world. At this moment, no one could help feeling despair.
But he had followed Li Tian Gang into battle for many years, and although only in the Heavenly Human Realm, he too was a battle-hardened soldier.
“Marshal, we probably can’t hold this position!”
Yu Xuan stood up and roared, “Marshal, you must retreat first, let us buy you some time.”
As he spoke, he suddenly erupted with violent Qi Force, going so far as to rupture all the major meridians in his body, wildly releasing his Qi Force.
At the same time, his Divine Soul ignited, and his whole being, as if torn by divine light, burst forth with a heaven-piercing aura.
Li Tian Gang, who had always been steady and calm, finally showed a change of expression at this moment.
“Marshal, get out of here!”
Nearby, many members of the Fazi Camp’s trusted aides rushed over, forming an array in front of Li Tian Gang.
Meanwhile, Yu Xuan had already burst forth with all his strength, like a proud sun charging towards the ten Demon Kings, intending to block them!
“Mere ants!”
The vine demon elder merely glanced at him and sneered. With a flick of his hand, he lashed out a vine whip hundreds of feet thick. With a loud sound, the proud sun that roared and charged was extinguished on the spot.
It was like swatting a firefly with no effort.
How can a mere firefly compete with the bright moon?
“Yu Xuan!!”
Li Tian Gang watched, his eyes almost bursting, and his divine sword burst into blazing divine flames.
“Marshal!”
Li Fu also stood in front of him, urgently saying, “We cannot hold here any longer; it’s alright for us to die, but you cannot!”
“Stay calm, Marshal!”
The other two deputy generals also urged quickly.
In the midst of their words, they too stepped forward, knowing their Cultivation Levels were weak and they could hardly block the onslaught, but as soldiers, how could they retreat?
