The Opposing League of Ten Thousand Demons

The eight city lords did not dare to be negligent and hastily received the tokens with respectful hands.

The tokens felt slightly heavy in their hands, cool to the touch, with a faint spiritual light flowing over them. They were clearly no ordinary items.

Their hearts settled slightly; at least this Holy Ancestor did not treat them entirely like slaves, even granting them the title of "Elder" and a certain degree of autonomy.

Seeing their submissive attitude, Gu Changyuan's expression softened a little.

"Since the Outer Realm City has submitted to the Holy Land, some of the Holy Land's rules and systems must gradually be implemented here.

Later, I will have the Holy Land dispatch a Lunar Elder well-versed in this path to assist you in reforming and integrating the Outer Realm City's management system, which will better align with the Holy Land's interests."

He first clarified the subsequent arrangements.

Immediately after, he casually waved his large hand.

"Clatter—"

Hundreds of Supreme Bones radiating various precious lights and flowing Dao rhythms, along with hundreds of Half-Immortal Artifacts in different shapes with their precious auras soaring to the heavens, floated around him.

In an instant, the surrounding space was brilliantly illuminated.

The eight city lords, along with the three women led by Ye Qingxue who had just caught their breath and were standing to the side, were all so shocked by this sudden "rain of treasures" that their pupils shrank and their breathing grew heavy.

Supreme Bones! Half-Immortal Artifacts! And in such quantities!

Is... is this the foundation of the Holy Land's Holy Ancestor?! It was simply appalling!

Gu Changyuan's voice rang out at the right moment, carrying an unquestionable certainty and temptation:

"However, you need not worry. As long as you truly submit, strictly perform your duties, and bring the proper benefits and stability to the Holy Land,"

He pointed at those covetable treasures in the air.

"These are merely ordinary rewards. Furthermore, what you dream of for the future—reconnecting the immortal path and ascending to the Immortal Realm—I can also help you achieve."

Administering both grace and might was the true way to rule subordinates. Constantly beating them down would only breed resentment.

Only by giving them tangible goals and painting a reachable grand vision could they truly bow their heads and serve the Holy Land.

The eight city lords' original petty schemes were completely shattered at this moment by the flashing treasure lights before them and the promise of "ascending to the Immortal Realm."

Doubt?

The other party could casually bring out Supreme Bones and Half-Immortal Artifacts that they might not even gather after a thousand years of accumulation.

The strength the other party displayed completely surpassed their understanding of "Half-Immortal" or even the "Immortal Realm."

Compared to the seized profits of the Outer Realm City, these accessible top-tier resources before them, as well as the hope leading to a higher realm and a longer lifespan, were what cultivators like them truly dreamed of.

Serving such an existence seemed... not like a loss at all?

Thinking of this, the last trace of unwillingness in the eyes of the eight city lords completely dissipated, replaced by irrepressible excitement, fanaticism, and unprecedented determination.

"Yes! We subordinates will surely do our utmost to serve the Holy Land and will never disappoint the Holy Ancestor's high expectations."

Gu Changyuan nodded in satisfaction.

He raised his right hand, lightly snapping his thumb and middle finger together, and a crisp snap exploded in the silent air.

Following this snap, the nine giant swords suspended high in the sky, exuding an aura of silent destruction, vanished simultaneously.

At the same time, the terrifying pressure that enveloped a thousand miles and made all living beings bow down also disappeared without a trace in an instant.

As for the ten Half-Immortal cultivators and the two exotic beasts below, the moment the pressure dissipated, their bodies were suddenly enveloped by an invisible immense force.

Their bones shattered inch by inch, and their bodies instantly turned into a sky full of blood mist, completely annihilated between heaven and earth without leaving a single trace.

......

Returning to the Outer Realm City's City Lord Manor, Gu Changyuan gave a few brief instructions to the eight newly appointed elders before wasting no time, taking the women and directly leaving this city that had just changed owners.

In Gu Changyuan's view, since Bai Zeming had spied on the "fated tribulation" of Ye Qingxue and the others, given that girl Tushan Youyao's personality and her high regard for these fellow senior sisters, she definitely would not sit idly by.

She must have already dispatched other disciples of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion to rush to the Outer Realm Territory at top speed to investigate and provide support.

Although he didn't know how many would be deployed, Lu Jiuyi and Zhu Jiuyin would definitely be among them.

The divine abilities of these two made them the fastest traveling combination in the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

Thinking of this, the rapidly flying Gu Changyuan turned his head to look at Luo Qingchen traveling beside him and asked:

"Qingchen, do you have the location coordinates of your Second Senior Brother and the others on you?"

Hearing this, Luo Qingchen immediately took out a warm cyan jade plaque from her storage space and handed it to Gu Changyuan.

Gu Changyuan took the jade plaque, lightly probed into it with his divine sense, and instantly captured nine familiar demonic power coordinates.

Four of these coordinates were extremely close to each other, their auras intertwined, clearly moving together. They were exactly Lu Jiuyi, Xiang Xuanyin, Sun Buhuo, and Zhu Jiuyin.

It seemed that the ones Tushan Youyao sent were these four disciples who excelled at traveling.

He handed the jade plaque back to Luo Qingchen and asked again:

"Qingchen, have there been any unusual movements in the Heavenly Demon Pavilion recently?"

Luo Qingchen's expression turned slightly serious as she answered:

"Reporting to Master, there is indeed one matter.

After Master left, under the efforts of Eldest Senior Sister, Second Senior Brother, and the other fellow disciples, the Heavenly Demon Pavilion gradually rose and became a pivotal force in the Demon Realm.

The original structure of the Demon Realm was broken, and some veteran factions and races dissatisfied with the new order felt threatened.

About three hundred years ago, spearheaded by the 'Black Turtle Race' of the Northern Darkness Demon Sea, the 'Golden Roc Royal Race' of the Southern Wasteland Ancient Forest, and the 'Earth Fire Dragon Lizard Race' of the Crimson Flame Demon Territory.

They allied with dozens of small and medium-sized races in the Demon Realm and some rogue great demons to jointly establish an alliance named the 'Myriad Demon Alliance'."

"Myriad Demon Alliance?"

Gu Changyuan raised his eyebrows.

This name sounded like it carried a targeted and coalition nature.

"Yes, Master."

Luo Qingchen continued.

"At the beginning of the Myriad Demon Alliance's establishment, they viewed our Heavenly Demon Pavilion as an 'anomaly destroying the stability of the Demon Realm.' They opposed our pavilion at every turn, competed for resources, and even secretly instigated the defection of our peripheral vassals.

In recent decades, their activities have become increasingly frequent, and their methods increasingly radical. Frictions occur from time to time.

Eldest Senior Sister has been exhausting herself over this matter in recent years. Not only does she have to stabilize the interior, but she also has to deal with the provocations of the Myriad Demon Alliance, and she even has to distract herself... to search for your whereabouts, Master."

As she spoke towards the end, her voice lowered, and she carefully glanced at Gu Changyuan.

Listening to Luo Qingchen's narration, Gu Changyuan nodded slightly.

The rise of a faction touching upon old interests and triggering a backlash was the most normal thing.

The fact that the Heavenly Demon Pavilion could gain a firm foothold in the Demon Realm and develop to its current state had already proven the abilities of his demon race disciples.

However, since he had returned, these troubles naturally should be dealt with altogether.

The group completely left the wasteland area and once again entered the Extreme North.

This place was already the "bitterly cold forbidden land" of the Nine Heavens Realm in the truest sense. Looking out, heaven and earth were a vast expanse of white. The freezing wind was like a knife, rolling up thousands of piles of snow foam, and visibility was extremely low.

Ordinary cultivators here not only needed to expend a massive amount of spiritual energy to resist the severe cold but also had to be careful of various dangers hidden beneath the ice, snow, and frozen soil.