Division of the Southern Region

Yuan Tiangang shot to his feet. The phantom of a colossal demonic ape flashed into existence behind him, and his voice erupted through the hall like thunder:

“There is no need for further discussion! Our present-day demon race has put down roots in the Southern Region for tens of thousands of years. We are not the sort to wag our tails and beg for mercy! If they want war, then let them have war!”

“Pass on my orders! All tribes in the Southern Region are to guard their borders and mobilize their forces! I want to see what methods this Ancient Demon Court possesses to dare claim that it can destroy us in three days!”

Division was unavoidable.

Some tribes chose to wait and see. Others secretly sought to curry favor with the Ancient Demon Court, while still more swore to follow Yuan Tiangang to the bitter end.

The three-day deadline hung over the entire Southern Region like the sword of Damocles.

The air seemed to freeze. A great battle was on the verge of erupting.

On the third day, the deadline arrived.

Outside the southern gate of the bronze ancient city, roughly thirty percent of the tribes in the Southern Region had gathered. They knelt in a vast, dark mass, swearing allegiance.

Yet more than half of the tribes had still not arrived—especially Yuan Tiangang’s direct forces and staunch allies.

Deep within the ancient city, that icy will descended once more:

“The deadline has passed. The rebellious strains shall be executed.”

There was no further explanation. The city gates opened, and the silent army of ancient demons surged forth like a flood, its blades pointed directly at the present-day Demon Emperor!

The battle had finally begun.

Beneath the city walls, the army of the present-day demon race had long since formed up and stood ready. At Demon Emperor Yuan Tiangang’s command, demon soldiers and generals of every kind let out earth-shaking roars. Like a breached dam, they crashed head-on into the silent, grim army of the Ancient Demon Court pouring out of the bronze ancient city.

Boom—!

The deafening collision of demonic power tore the heavens apart in an instant.

The ancient demons deployed by the Ancient Demon Court had all awakened from their eternal slumber. They wore mottled battle armor, and their demonic aura carried the decay and savagery accumulated over the passage of countless ages.

The aura of more than one Great Saint was present among them. Even more terrifying quasi-emperor might lurked within their ranks, like an anchor stabilizing the sea, pressing heavily upon the hearts of the present-day demon race.

However, the present-day demon race had been able to establish itself and multiply in the Southern Region for countless years. It was no easy foe.

Under the pressure of life and death, countless great demons who had been hiding their strength broke through their secluded cultivation. Having previously benefited from the dense spiritual energy released by the revival of the Profound Yellow World, their cultivation had risen explosively.

Demonic light soared into the heavens. Bloodline divine abilities swept across the battlefield, and they managed to withstand the first, fiercest charge of the ancient demon army by sheer force.

Across the heavens and earth, demonic power clashed like raging tides. Roars and the thunderous explosions of divine abilities rang out without end.

Enormous demonic birds and ancient beasts fought savagely among the clouds. Scales and feathers rained down together.

On the ground, battle formations tore into one another. Demons fell every moment, their blood staining the mountains and rivers crimson in an instant.

Just as the battle had descended into a brutal deadlock, a sudden change occurred!

From deep within the bronze ancient city, a young figure stepped into the air.

His aura was not particularly ostentatious, yet it carried a supreme pressure that originated from the level of bloodline and soul.

Behind him followed several other ancient demon prodigies, each possessing a terrifying presence and astonishing combat strength. They plunged into the army as though entering an uninhabited land.

When a young prodigy of the present-day demon race saw this, he let out an angry roar and transformed into a streak of golden light that shot into the sky. His twin wings descended like heavenly blades, intending to test the newcomer’s edge.

Yet the figure merely raised a hand and pointed.

Pfft!

The golden light shattered. The prodigy was struck as though by thunder and sent flying backward, coughing up great mouthfuls of blood. Feathers scattered from his body, and he was defeated in a single move!

Another prodigy, a descendant of the White Tiger, charged forward with overwhelming killing intent. But the figure casually struck him down from the clouds with a single palm, leaving his bones broken and his tendons torn.

“How is this possible?! He defeated two of our race’s great prodigies in succession! Could it be that the son of an Ancient Emperor has emerged?!”

An elder of the demon race cried out in horror, his voice filled with disbelief and fear.

The figure suspected of being the son of an Ancient Emperor did not pursue them. He merely stood quietly in the void, looking down upon the battlefield. His invincible bearing instantly shook the morale of the present-day demon race.

The army of the Ancient Demon Court seized the opportunity to launch a fierce offensive. Their tactics were seasoned, their coordination seamless, and with the ancient prodigies serving as spearheads, they rapidly tore open the defensive line of the present-day demon race.

Although the present-day demon race was beaten back continuously, its battle lines shrinking and its losses mounting, it displayed astonishing resilience.

Whenever a defensive line neared collapse, some great demon would invariably lead his personal guards in a desperate last stand, sacrificing themselves to hold back the enemy. At other times, an ancient restriction hidden within one of the demon race’s secret lands would be activated, temporarily halting the advance.

Demon Emperor Yuan Tiangang himself fought at the very front. Transforming into a colossal demonic ape, he wielded a heaven-piercing iron staff and single-handedly stopped two ancient demon Great Saints who had joined forces against him.

Staff shadows swept across the battlefield, shattering mountains and rivers, barely stabilizing the central army’s formation.

The two sides fought back and forth, the battle locked in an exceptionally savage stalemate.

Although the Ancient Demon Court held the upper hand through its greater individual strength and superior military experience, forcing the present-day demon race to retreat continuously, the latter relied on its familiarity with the terrain and the desperate courage born of being driven to the brink to hold the enemy at bay.

Thus, the war of conquest that prophecy had declared would be as effortless as dead branches before a storm became a brutal struggle in which every inch of ground was contested.

Deep within the bronze ancient city, the icy will silently watched over the battlefield.

It did not seem eager to determine the outcome in a single stroke. Although the ancient demon army’s offensive was fierce, it always held something back at crucial moments.

It had yet to truly employ those heart-stopping forbidden methods originating from the ancient past.

They seemed more intent on using this war to reacquaint themselves with this world they had been separated from for countless ages and adapt to its new laws.

At the same time, they coldly screened and assimilated the newly allied tribes, turning their flesh and souls into nourishment for the Ancient Demon Court’s return.

The flames of war spread wildly across the Southern Region. Amid the bloody tug-of-war, the balance of victory tilted ever so slightly.

Everyone knew that this brutal stalemate was merely the prelude to the storm.

Daoist Repository Academy, guest courtyard.

Spiritual energy filled the courtyard, yet an invisible sense of oppression lingered in the air.

The ripples of battle arriving from the Southern Region and the proclamation that had swept across the Profound Yellow World hung over everyone’s hearts like dark clouds.

Qilin Son Mo Yu could not sit still, much less calm his mind to cultivate.

Every so often, he would stand and walk to the edge of the courtyard, anxiously gazing toward the Southern Region.

His scarlet-gold eyes were filled with undisguised worry—and a trace of bewilderment.

That was his homeland. It held the mountains and rivers he knew, the clan elders who had watched him grow up, and the valley where he had run and played as a child.

Mo Yu’s unusual behavior quickly caught the attention of Xiao Ruobai and the others.

Ling Xi, dressed in a simple and elegant gown, had already appeared silently nearby like a secluded orchid. Her cool gaze was likewise fixed on the south.

Even Fatty Wang, who had been tinkering with new talismans in the distance, scratched his head and came over. His plump face was filled with concern.

“What’s wrong with Mo Yu? Has he gone mad from cultivation?”

Xiao Ruobai slowly shook his head, his gaze deep and profound.

“Mo Yu is from the Southern Region. The events there have already disrupted his Dao heart.”

Xiao Ruobai raised a hand to cut him off, then swept his eyes over Fang Hanyu, Ling Xi, and Fatty Wang.

“We have gained a great deal from this trip to Daoist Repository Academy. Now that the Southern Region has undergone such a drastic upheaval and Mo Yu’s mind is unsettled, there is no benefit in forcing him to stay.

“Make the necessary preparations. We will return to the Azure Profound Sect immediately and decide what to do next.”

“Yes, Master!”

A trace of gratitude flashed through Mo Yu’s eyes, and he immediately accepted the order.

Fang Hanyu nodded silently. Ling Xi had already turned around to make preparations, while Fatty Wang began efficiently packing up his talismans.

A short while later, in the main hall of Daoist Repository Academy,

Xiao Ruobai explained his intention to leave to Perfected Xuanji.

Perfected Xuanji stroked his beard and sighed. “Since you young friends have made up your minds to leave, this old man won’t presume to stop you.

The mountains are high and the waters are long. Travel safely. If you need anything, you can use this token to send me a message.” With that, he handed over an ancient-looking token.

Xiao Ruobai accepted it and offered his sincere thanks.

The group wasted no more time. Transforming into several streaks of light, they sped away from Daozang Academy toward the Qingxuan Sect.

Chapter Three is a bit stuck. I’ll update tonight!