Qian Chongxiao took Qian Daoliu and tore through space, instantly escaping a hundred miles away to land on a desolate mountain peak. Looking back, demonic energy surged into the sky from the direction of the Savage Beast Hills; even from such a distance, one could still feel that heart-palpitating sense of evil and chaos.
Qian Daoliu's complexion was pale, his breathing slightly ragged. The continuous high-intensity combat and spatial travel had taken a significant toll on him. He looked at his father beside him, his eyes carrying a trace of unwillingness, but more so, a sense of relief that even he himself had not fully realized.
He did not know the secrets and struggles deep within his father's heart regarding "sacrifice," but he was well aware that his father had suffered severe hidden injuries in his youth. Despite years of recuperation, the root cause remained difficult to heal, making prolonged combat the most dangerous thing for him. If his father had risked everything to fight the Demon King to the death just now for the sake of a quick victory, even if he had won, he would have inevitably suffered heavy damage to his origin qi, potentially triggering old ailments and shortening his lifespan. Withdrawing temporarily, while helpless, had avoided the worst-case scenario.
"Father, your body..." Qian Daoliu asked with concern.
Qian Chongxiao waved his hand. Although his expression remained solemn, his breathing was relatively steady. "It is nothing, just some superficial wounds and a bit of overexertion. That Demon King is cunning and unwilling to leave the Hell Gate, defending blindly, making it difficult to take down in a short time." He paused, looking at Qian Daoliu with a hint of apology in his tone. "Liu'er, for father..."
"Father, there is no need to say more." Qian Daoliu interrupted, his expression firm. "I understand. The demons are powerful and the gate is hard to break; rushing into a death match is not a wise strategy. The top priority is to assemble our forces as quickly as possible, set up defenses, and then plan a strategy to break the gate. Father's decision was not improper."
Seeing his son so reasonable, Qian Chongxiao felt a bit more at ease, though the guilt born from his own selfishness deepened. He took a deep breath, suppressed his distracting thoughts, and said in a deep voice, "Correct! The demons have appeared, and we must stop them from spreading! Liu'er, you must immediately mobilize all Martial Soul Hall branch forces in the vicinity, urgently evacuate all villagers and town residents within a hundred miles of the Savage Beast Hills, and relocate them to large cities! At the same time, conscript all local Soul Masters, place them under the command of Martial Soul Hall personnel, and immediately blockade all key routes entering the Savage Beast Hills. Build a defensive line; we must not let the demon army break out and harm the world!"
"Yes!" Qian Daoliu accepted the order solemnly. He took the token, spread his six wings, and transformed into a golden light, flying toward the nearest large city.
Qian Chongxiao remained where he was, his powerful spiritual power spreading out like mercury to monitor the movements in the direction of the Savage Beast Hills while he began to regulate his breath and recover. He knew the true, brutal battle was yet to come.
Over the next three days, a tense and busy evacuation and defensive construction effort unfolded, centered on the Savage Beast Hills. Martial Soul Hall demonstrated the immense power and efficient execution of the continent's premier organization.
Orders were transmitted through special channels to all corners, and city after city, village after village, began large-scale migrations under the guidance and protection of Martial Soul Hall Soul Masters. The sounds of crying, horse hooves, and carriage wheels mingled, but order was generally maintained.
At the same time, Soul Masters belonging to Martial Soul Hall across the regions, along with many free Soul Masters and small family forces who had heard the news, quickly set up checkpoints and constructed simple fortifications on the dangerous outskirts of the Savage Beast Hills under the coordination of Martial Soul Hall. They patrolled day and night, vigilant against any demons that might appear.
As for the father and son, Qian Chongxiao and Qian Daoliu, they relied on their superior strength and the Angel Martial Soul's keen perception of evil auras to repeatedly risk approaching the Savage Beast Hills for reconnaissance and harassment. Like two bolts of golden lightning, they would occasionally break into the edge of the demon forces, unleashing sacred purification to wipe out small groups of demons, or strike from a distance with holy light to delay the stabilization of the Hell Gate and the assembly speed of the demon army.
Their actions were highly effective, killing at least several thousand low-level demons and delaying the pace of the demonic expansion. However, the cost was that Qian Daoliu was repeatedly entangled by those fearless Great Demon Knights, and on several occasions, he nearly fell into a siege, only escaping thanks to Qian Chongxiao's timely rescue. As their reconnaissance deepened, the intelligence they gathered became increasingly alarming.
On the evening of the third day, when Yu Boxuan, Yu Yuanchen, and Yu Qingtian led the elites of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Ye Family physicians to the designated meeting point—the "Rock Fortress" three hundred miles from the Savage Beast Hills—this was the scene they saw: inside and outside the fortress, the atmosphere was murderous, Soul Masters were moving back and forth, and groups of displaced civilians were being escorted away from the battlefield by Soul Masters.
In the council hall at the center of the fortress, Qian Chongxiao, Qian Daoliu, and those who had arrived earlier—Ning Zhiyuan of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Azure Peak Douluo, and Feng Zaiyun of the Wind Sword Sect—were gathered around a massive map with solemn expressions.
"Brother Yuanchen!" "Sect Master Yu!"
Seeing the arrival of Yu Yuanchen's group, everyone stood up to greet them, their faces showing a hint of excitement. The arrival of Yu Yuanchen was undoubtedly a shot in the arm.
"Senior Qian, Brother Qian, everyone, it has been a long time." Yu Yuanchen returned the salute, his gaze sweeping over the group before landing on Qian Chongxiao. "How is the situation?"
Qian Chongxiao sighed, pointed to the location of the Savage Beast Hills on the map, and said in a deep voice, "It is not optimistic. In these three days, Liu'er and I have investigated many times; the number of demons has already exceeded ten thousand! Moreover, the number of high-level demons has increased significantly!"
He detailed, "We have discovered no fewer than a hundred high-level demons equivalent to the Soul Sage and Soul Douluo levels! Those Great Demon Knights, who excel in coordinated attacks, have also increased from the initial seven to fourteen! Even more troublesome is the appearance of three 'Green Flame Demons' with exceptionally powerful auras; their strength is likely not inferior to a level 95 Super Douluo!"
Hearing this, everyone gasped. More than ten thousand demons, over a hundred high-level demons, fourteen Great Demon Knights capable of rivaling Titled Douluos, and three Green Flame Demons at the Super Douluo level! This force was enough to sweep through the vast majority of powers on the continent.
"And the most troublesome remains that Demon King." Qian Chongxiao's tone was heavy. "It calls itself 'Salvos'. Its strength is formidable, and it is incredibly cunning. It remains entrenched near the Hell Gate and refuses to leave, clearly intending to be able to attack or retreat as it pleases. Once it encounters a fatal danger, it can retreat back to the Demon Plane at any time. Because of this, although my Angel lineage has repelled demonic invasions several times in history, there has never been a precedent for killing a Demon King."
At this moment, Yu Yuanchen suddenly spoke, his voice calm but carrying a sense of insight: "Senior Qian, in your opinion, is there only this one Demon King in this invasion? Could there be other Demon Kings hiding in the shadows, or perhaps yet to descend?"
This question made everyone freeze, and their hearts immediately tightened. If there were a second Demon King, the situation would be completely out of control!
Qian Chongxiao pondered for a moment, shook his head, and said firmly, "The possibility is extremely low. Demons are inherently cruel and chaotic, and there is only betrayal and slaughter among their own kind; there is almost no trust to speak of. The energy that a single Hell Gate can transport and the plane pressure it can bear are also limited, usually only supporting the descent and activity of one Demon King-level existence. More importantly, according to the records of my Qian family through the generations, every demonic invasion has only featured one Demon King. They seem to follow a rule of 'hunting territory' and will not share 'spoils' with other Demon Kings."
Hearing this answer, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. One Demon King, while difficult to kill, could be repelled, and if everyone gathered their strength to destroy the Hell Gate, the crisis could be resolved.
Just then, a report came from outside. Tang Gan and Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Sect, Dai Jingxuan of the White Tiger Sect, Shi Feng of the Black Tortoise Sect, leaders of the Fire Leopard Sect and other sects, as well as a large number of elites led by Pope Qian Chongshan and the Second Worship, the Golden Crocodile Douluo, had also arrived at the Rock Fortress one after another.
A moment later, in the fortress's largest council hall, the helmsmen and peak powerhouses of the continent's top forces were gathered together. The Upper Three Sects, the Lower Four Sects, and the high-level members of Martial Soul Hall were all present, the atmosphere heavy and solemn.
Pope Qian Chongshan first introduced the current situation and their own strength. Due to the urgency, each side could only bring elites, all at least at the Soul King level or above. The total number of Soul Masters added up to about four thousand. Although they were far fewer in number than the demons, their individual strength was greater, and they were all veterans of many battles.
Next, Qian Chongxiao once again clarified the detailed intelligence on the demons, especially the characteristics and threats of the Demon King Salvos, to everyone.
"...That is the situation. The Demon King Salvos is the core, and the Hell Gate is the root. Someone must be able to hold off or even defeat the Demon King head-on, creating an opportunity for others to destroy the Hell Gate." Qian Chongxiao concluded, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally landing on Yu Yuanchen.
In his view, he naturally had to be the one to confront the Demon King, but it would be very difficult to resolve the opponent in a short time, and he needed a helper. Among those present, the one most likely to help him confront the Demon King was undoubtedly this unfathomable Young Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Qian Chongxiao's tone was heavy and sincere: "Young Friend Yuanchen, I will not hide it from everyone: that Demon King Salvos is formidable in strength and cunning, defending from behind the gate. I hold the Angel Sacred Sword, and while I can gain the upper hand through attribute suppression, it is already difficult to repel it in a short time; to leave it behind completely is even harder. Relying on myself alone, I fear I cannot complete the task and might instead be delayed by it, missing the opportunity."
He paused, his gaze toward Yu Yuanchen carrying a sincere request: "Young Friend Yuanchen has profound cultivation and superior combat power, especially excelling in powerful attacks. If I have your help, the two of us working together—one attacking directly and one using unconventional tactics—might be able to achieve a quick victory, or at least force it back into the gate, buying time for the main army to wipe out the demons and destroy the portal. I wonder if you could lend me a hand to fight this monster together?"
Everyone in the tent looked at Yu Yuanchen upon hearing this. Qian Chongxiao's words were not false; the Demon King was indeed extremely difficult to deal with, and having the two strongest powerhouses of the current era work together was the safest plan.
Yu Yuanchen's heart stirred. He knew well that Qian Chongxiao could not fight for long due to old injuries, and he was unaware that his own current strength had already surpassed that of an ordinary Titled Douluo. Qian Chongxiao's move was out of caution, but also a sign of his high regard.
He had originally intended to deal with it alone to achieve a thunderous strike and eliminate the root of the problem. But on second thought, having Qian Chongxiao use the divine artifact to launch a frontal assault and attract the Demon King's full attention while he secretly gathered his strength to find the best moment for a fatal strike might have a higher success rate.
Therefore, he met Qian Chongxiao's gaze and nodded calmly: "The Worship is too kind. The Demon King's flames are towering and threaten the continent; it is my duty. It is my honor to fight side-by-side with you. Let us follow your suggestion; you and I shall join forces to meet that Demon King."
He did not reveal that he had the confidence to kill the Demon King alone; accepting with humility at this moment was the best way to proceed.
Seeing Yu Yuanchen agree, a look of relief appeared on Qian Chongxiao's face: "Good! With your help, our chances in this battle have greatly increased!"
The atmosphere in the tent relaxed. Having the strongest Demon King dealt with by the combined efforts of Yu Yuanchen and Qian Chongxiao was undoubtedly a reassurance for everyone.
Next, the tactical assignments were quickly finalized:
The fourteen Great Demon Knights would be defeated by two groups led by Yu Boxuan of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Tang Gan of the Clear Sky Sect.
The three highly threatening Green Flame Demons would be handled by Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect (Ning Zhiyuan, Azure Peak) would provide full support to all parties.
The Black Tortoise Sect (Shi Feng) would be responsible for overall defense, protecting support Soul Masters and the front line.
The Martial Soul Hall elites (led by Qian Chongshan and the Golden Crocodile Douluo), in conjunction with the Wind Sword Sect, White Tiger Sect, Fire Leopard Sect, and other sects, would wipe out the low-to-mid-level demons and prevent them from spreading.
"Since that is the case, everyone, prepare yourselves! In one hour, the entire army will set out, marching toward the Savage Beast Hills to slay the demons and defend the path!" Pope Qian Chongshan ordered solemnly.
"Slay the demons and defend the path!" all the powerhouses responded in unison, their fighting spirit soaring.
One hour later, the coalition army set out like a torrent of steel, charging toward the source of the demonic energy.
Yu Yuanchen and Qian Chongxiao exchanged a glance and nodded in tacit understanding. Qian Chongxiao held the Angel Sacred Sword, glowing with divine light, and was the first to transform into a golden stream of light, rushing straight toward the Hell Gate with vast momentum, intending to attract the Demon King's full attention. Yu Yuanchen's aura was restrained, his figure vaguely visible, and he hid silently on the flank, like a dormant thunderbolt, waiting for the moment for a fatal strike.
The great battle was about to erupt! Could the combined efforts of these two powerhouses of the era leave behind that cunning Demon King? The answer would soon be revealed in blood and fire.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan