220: The Heavenly Demon was stunned! There was a traitor within the Great Xia Dynasty!

Within the temporarily erected crimson demonic hall of the Jiuli Divine Dynasty.

"Old Ancestor of Jiuli"—or rather, the Netherworld Heavenly Demon—sat high upon a throne constructed from countless skulls of living beings.

His eyes were tightly shut, his consciousness filled with a bloody panorama of the entire Eastern Region of the Central Continent.

In just a few short days,

the demonic army under his command had effortlessly conquered the thirteen vassal dynasties that once surrounded the original Great Xia Divine Dynasty.

The flesh, blood, and Souls of billions of living beings had now transformed into the purest torrent of energy.

This torrent flowed ceaselessly into his body through invisible channels of Law, nourishing his Emperor Realm Origin that had been parched for hundreds of thousands of years.

"Blissful... truly blissful!"

A moan of Soul-deep satisfaction escaped the Netherworld Heavenly Demon.

This sensation of devouring life to strengthen himself far surpassed the world's most potent wine or its most alluring women.

It intoxicated him deeply.

His cultivation had already Advanced from the Early Stage of the First Level of the Great Emperor Realm when he first broke free, steadily progressing into the Middle Stage of the first level.

Although reaching the Peak was still a journey of countless miles away, this feeling of rapid power growth restored his confidence as a supreme powerhouse.

The shadow cast by that terrifying Demoness he encountered in the Immortal Burial Abyss, who had made him feel as if facing a formidable enemy, had also faded considerably.

"The Great Xia Empress... is indeed a fool, just as this venerable one predicted."

A cruel arc curved at the corner of the Netherworld Heavenly Demon's mouth.

The slaughter carried out by his army was not concealed in the slightest.

Yet, the response from the Great Xia Divine Dynasty was laughably sluggish.

Not only did they fail to organize an effective counterattack immediately, they instead issued orders to contract their defensive lines and lure the enemy deeper.

Such orders appeared exceptionally foolish.

"This is practically delivering meat to this venerable one's mouth, afraid that I won't have enough to eat."

The Netherworld Heavenly Demon shook his head disdainfully.

However, the other party's decree proclaimed to the world did take him somewhat by surprise.

"Heavenly Demon Possession? Heh, interesting."

He didn't care about his identity being exposed.

In this world where power reigns supreme, as long as he was strong enough, he was heaven itself.

Who would dare question it?

He even felt the Great Xia Empress's action was building momentum for him.

Letting the ants of this continent experience in advance the supreme terror from the Netherworld.

But.

The other party's claim that a youth named 'Su Chen' had once tricked and slain a Heavenly Demon Clone...

"Who is this youth named Su Chen? When did this venerable one ever get tricked and slain by him?"

A flash of tyrannical killing intent flickered in the Netherworld Heavenly Demon's eyes.

"Once this venerable one flattens the Great Xia Imperial City, I will definitely drag out this youth named Su Chen and, right before that Empress's eyes, shred his Divine Soul inch by inch... and chew it to pieces!"

After venting his emotions,

the Netherworld Heavenly Demon redirected his attention back to the battlefield situation.

These minor vassal dynasties on the periphery offered blood sacrifices of too low quality, already unable to satisfy his ever-growing appetite.

He needed more Advanced, more vast life energy.

His gaze turned towards the vast territories of the Great Xia Divine Dynasty.

"The timing for a full-scale assault is not yet ripe."

The Netherworld Heavenly Demon's fingers lightly tapped on the armrest of his throne, producing a soft 'knock-knock' sound.

"This venerable one needs a Breakthrough point, a perfect hunting ground that can inflict a wound deep enough for the Great Xia Divine Dynasty to feel and also allow this venerable one to feast to his fill."

His immense Divine Thought transformed into an invisible, colossal net, once again enveloping the territorial map of the Great Xia Divine Dynasty.

Soon.

A coordinate emitting an enticing 'fragrance' was locked onto.

"Tianfeng City..."

A burst of greedy light erupted in the Netherworld Heavenly Demon's eyes.

"A population of tens of millions, abundant Spiritual Qi, an incompetent defending general, flat terrain..."

"It's practically... a gift from the heavens bestowed upon this venerable one!"

He could almost imagine how that prosperous city would transform into a wailing Hell on earth when his demonic army descended.

What a delectable feast the despairing Souls of those tens of millions of living beings would be!

"It's decided!"

The Netherworld Heavenly Demon abruptly stood up.

The terrifying demonic majesty of a Great Emperor instantly filled the entire demonic hall.

"Convey my Demon Decree!"

"Order Demon General Rahu to lead his 300,000 'Blood Demon Guards', abandon all frontal battlefields, secretly assemble, and arrive at the gates of Tianfeng City within three days!"

"Remember, this venerable one wants no prisoners, no city!"

"What this venerable one wants from that city is... every single Soul, leaving not a single one behind!"

"As you command!"

A demonic shadow shrouded in bloody mist emerged from the shadows below the throne, received the order, and departed.

Having done all this,

the Netherworld Heavenly Demon sat back down on his throne, a smug smile of a hunter who has set a trap and awaits his prey appearing on his face.

He could almost already hear the delightful screams and wails from Tianfeng City... Three days later.

Night fell like ink, enveloping Tianfeng City.

The city remained brightly lit, a scene of bustling prosperity, utterly unaware that a catastrophic disaster was about to descend.

A hundred miles outside the city.

The Void Realm was silently torn open.

Three hundred thousand Blood Demon Guards clad in crimson armor, eyes glowing red, auras sinister and strange, emerged soundlessly upon the wilderness like evil spirits pouring forth from Hell.

At their head, Demon General Rahu looked at the distant, defenseless city, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

"A flock of lambs for the slaughter."

He raised the demonic blade in his hand, about to issue the command to attack.

Suddenly!

"Hummm—"

Centered on Tianfeng City, the earth within a thousand-mile radius trembled violently!

Thick golden pillars of light, massive as mountain ranges, erupted from beneath the earth, instantly piercing through the night sky!

One hundred and eight pillars of light intertwined high in the firmament, forming a vast golden net that covered heaven and earth!

Each pillar of light emitted a righteous aura potent enough to purify all demons and evil!

Every strand of the net's mesh flowed with terrifying slaughtering power sufficient to annihilate a Saint King!

"The Ten Directions Annihilation Formation!"

The smile on Demon General Rahu's face instantly froze.

Replacing it was boundless horror and disbelief!

A trap?!

There was actually an ambush here?!

And it was an Emperor-level killing Formation!

"Not good! Retreat, quickly!" Rahu let out a terrified shriek.

But it was already too late.

"Activate the Formation!"

A clear, cold, and authoritative female voice, as if descending from the Nine Heavens, resounded across heaven and earth.

BOOM!!!!

The golden net violently contracted. Endless golden divine flames erupted from the Formation's nodes, transforming into a sea of fire that incinerated all creation, instantly engulfing the three hundred thousand Blood Demon Guards, along with Demon General Rahu, completely!

"Ah—No—!!!"

The piercing, miserable screams lasted less than a breath before abruptly ceasing.

In the Jiuli demonic hall, billions of miles away.

The Netherworld Heavenly Demon, who had been waiting with closed eyes for his 'meal', suddenly snapped open his crimson demonic pupils.

A mouthful of black blood uncontrollably gushed forth!

"Pfft—!"

His Divine Soul connection with the three hundred thousand Blood Demon Guards was completely severed in that instant!

Total annihilation!

"This... how is this possible?!"

The Netherworld Heavenly Demon's ferocious face was filled with ghost-like horror and bewilderment.

How could they have known he intended to attack Tianfeng City?!

How could they have laid down an Emperor-level killing Formation in advance?!

This doesn't make sense!

This completely defies logic!

Unless... a thought that made even his demonic Soul tremble surged up uncontrollably.

The Great Xia Divine Dynasty... has a traitor!