Central Continent, Northern Territory, Yunqi Kingdom.
Yu Feng Hall, the Royal Capital.
The King of Yunqi was currently seated high atop the throne in the hall.
Below the throne, civil and military officials were arranged in two clearly distinct columns.
The atmosphere in the hall was heavy; the King's face showed worry as his gaze swept over the many officials below.
The numerous officials all lowered their heads, daring not meet the King's eyes.
The group of foreign Demon Race members on Nanping Mountain recently had been exceedingly arrogant.
Not only had they seized control of Nanping Mountain, which stretched for hundreds of miles, but they had also encompassed all thirty-six surrounding counties within their sphere of influence!
The Martial Artists of Yunqi Kingdom rose up to resist during this period, but suffered heavy casualties, numbering in the tens of thousands!
The nation's only Heaven Realm Martial Artist went to negotiate, but was slaughtered by the Demon Race and devoured on the spot.
At this point, the Yunqi Kingdom had completely lost any room to bargain with this group of Demon Race members.
The territory was lost, and the common people of the thirty-six counties had become rations for the Demon Race...
The King's voice was low, carrying a trace of despair and guilt: "The territory is lost, the people suffer, and the Demon Race runs rampant... It is I, the lonely one, who is incompetent!"
As soon as his voice fell, the civil and military officials all knelt down, their faces showing panic and shame.
The sound of robes rubbing and armor clashing filled the imperial court.
A veteran Senior official said, trembling: "Your Majesty! This is a Yao disaster, not Your Majesty's fault."
"It is we ministers who failed in our duties, failing to detect the traces of the Demon Race in time, causing the nation to fall into this predicament."
Many officials echoed in agreement.
"Your Majesty! The chaos caused by the Demon Race is an unforeseen calamity, not something a monarch could predict..."
A young general, beneath his armor showing unconcealable fatigue, knelt on the ground with his head bowed: "It is I, the humble general, who is incompetent! I failed to protect our nation's borders and ensure the safety of our people."
He was a Martial Artist who had retreated from Nanping Mountain, having personally witnessed the strength and brutality of the Demon Race.
The King's gaze swept over his empty sleeve, and his heart was filled with even greater sorrow.
He slowly stepped down from the throne and helped up the young general kneeling on the ground.
"The common people of the thirty-six counties suffer day and night, eagerly awaiting the Royal Army's arrival, yet all they see is the pervasive mist of the Demon Race. Our hearts are truly being torn apart."
A civil official said with resentment: "The aid from the Upper Kingdom now seems to be an empty promise!"
Upon mentioning the Upper Kingdom, the civil and military officials immediately showed indignation.
For many years, their Yunqi Kingdom had consistently paid tribute to the so-called Upper Kingdom, and the Upper Kingdom had promised to provide protection.
However, with the current Yao infestation on Nanping Mountain, the King's letter of appeal sent to the Upper Kingdom had still received no reply...
"Liars! What dogshit Upper Kingdom! They take our tribute but only take money and don't deliver! Don't expect us to send them another single copper coin from now on!"
The promise of the Upper Kingdom was like 'Flower in the Mirror, Moon in the Water'... The King of Yunqi closed his eyes in silence.
However, just as the ministers finished speaking, a powerful and magnificent True Essence fluctuation erupted from the horizon.
"Such a powerful True Essence aura—could it be that the Demon Race from Nanping Mountain has descended upon the Royal Capital?"
"It's over! The Demon Race has killed their way to the Royal Capital; our Yunqi Kingdom is finished!"
"They push us too far! I will fight these Demon Race members to the death! Even if I die, I must bite off a piece of flesh!"
The civil and military officials displayed various expressions: some looked ashen, some were completely despairing, some were incomparably furious, and some drew their blades...
The King of Yunqi, however, showed a look of grim determination. As the ruler of a nation, he was also a powerful Martial Artist.
Although his Peak Origin Realm cultivation level made it impossible to contend with those Heaven Realm Demon Race members, just as the person before had said, he would bite off a piece of the enemy's flesh even in death!
The Son of Heaven guards the nation's gates; the monarch dies for the state!
He drew his sword and walked out, ignoring the obstruction of his ministers, to look towards the sky outside the hall, only to be instantly shocked.
The source of the powerful True Essence was not the Demon Race, but the Human Race!
The many military officers who had rushed out earlier showed the same look of shock.
They looked up at the three figures in the sky; a powerful oppressive force emanated from them.
The group first showed shock, followed by a moment of confusion.
A military officer bravely asked: "Three... Seniors, what is your purpose in coming to our Yunqi Royal City?"
Li Xuanxiao silently took out the letter of appeal bearing the seal of the Yunqi Kingdom.
"We come from the Upper Kingdom, responding to the letter of appeal to rush to Yunqi's aid."
Hearing Li Xuanxiao personally utter the words 'Upper Kingdom,' the expressions of the officials changed, finally transforming into ecstasy.
People from the Upper Kingdom!
People from the Upper Kingdom have arrived!
The Upper Kingdom has come to save us!
The officials rushed to salute, and a few even wept tears of joy.
"Thank you, Upper Kingdom, for your mercy! We are overwhelmed with gratitude..."
"The aid from the Upper Kingdom is like charcoal delivered in snow, resolving the urgent crisis of our Yunqi. Three esteemed envoys, please accept our bow."
"I told you all along that the Upper Kingdom would definitely come to save us, but you didn't believe me!"
"Shut up! You were the loudest just now!"
This speed of changing faces... truly worthy of those who can enter the hall.
Li Xuanxiao's mouth twitched; he had clearly heard how these people had slandered the Upper Kingdom behind their backs just moments ago.
Long Hui cleared his throat and spoke: "The Yunqi Kingdom has been loyal to our Upper Kingdom over the years, paying tribute on time. The difficulties of Yunqi are our Upper Kingdom's worries! We have been ordered to come and rush to Yunqi's aid to jointly resist the Yao Evil!"
The three descended to the ground, and the numerous ministers rushed forward to greet them.
They had originally thought the Upper Kingdom would ignore the difficulties of Yunqi, but unexpectedly, the other party sent three people the very next second.
The ministers, who had been in a state of deathly silence and despair, suddenly seemed to come back to life.
The gloom in their hearts was completely swept away.
The feeling was much like a well-behaved child being bullied on campus, forced to pay protection money by thugs, and then when he was cornered against a wall, the thugs showed up to save him in a souped-up car...
The dramatic rise and fall of emotions was like a roller coaster.
The King of Yunqi was relatively calmer; he silently returned his sword to its sheath, his expression complex.
Although among the three people before him, two had auras at the Heaven Realm level.
Their faces were too young; could they truly handle the heavy responsibility of slaying Yao Beasts?
According to the battle reports sent back from the front lines, the Nanping Mountain was occupied by over a dozen Heaven Realm Demon Race members, including several at the Late Stage of the Heaven Realm!
He had doubts in his heart, but he showed nothing on the surface.
"Three envoys from the Upper Kingdom, I am the King of this Yunqi Kingdom. You esteemed envoys have traveled thousands of miles; you must be very tired from the journey. Why don't we..."
Li Xuanxiao directly waved his hand: "King of Yunqi, there is no need to say more. Your Yunqi Kingdom has common people and Martial Artists dying every second; I imagine you are burning with anxiety. We have come precisely to solve this problem. Any arrangements can wait until everything is over. Now, tell us the situation you have learned."
The King of Yunqi was overjoyed; he had truly feared that the other party would delay too long, causing too many Martial Artists and common people to die needlessly.
He never expected the other party to be so direct and efficient.
Are all Martial Artists from the Upper Kingdom this decisive?
"Then I thank you esteemed envoys. Yunqi truly cannot afford any more delays."
The King of Yunqi immediately compiled the battle reports sent from the front lines and handed them to Li Xuanxiao, who had landed on the ground.
"The Demon Race is mainly composed of those in the Early to Middle Stages of the Heaven Realm, but there are also several at the Late Stage of the Heaven Realm..."
After the three read them, they had a clear understanding of the various pieces of information regarding the Demon Race on Nanping Mountain.
Li Xuanxiao looked at Long Hui: "What do you say? Should we figure out a way to blast the hell out of them?"
Long Hui shrugged: "I don't mind; I've never been afraid of Heaven Realm level Demon Race members."
Saying that, the two of them looked towards Wu Jiangming.
His cultivation level was the lowest; if there were any variables, they were most likely to occur with him.
Wu Jiangming felt a bit awkward; having a low cultivation level was truly difficult.
He hadn't expected this group of Demon Race members to actually include existences at the Late Stage of the Heaven Realm!
"I still say the same thing: you two don't need to worry about me. I guarantee I won't be a burden!"
Wu Jiangming braced himself, thinking that he still had several hundred Formation Flags in his Storage Ring, which made him breathe a small sigh of relief.
Li Xuanxiao nodded: "Let's go!"