221: The war has escalated! The Demon King has gone completely mad, and the continent is devastated!

Outside Tianfeng City, the Emperor-grade killing formation 'Ten Directions Annihilation' achieved success in a single battle, and three hundred thousand demon troops were instantly reduced to ashes.

Under Ji Hongxue's deliberate promotion, this shocking news swept across the entire Xuanyuan Continent at an astonishing speed.

Inside a restaurant in Tianshu City—the largest gathering place for Cultivators in the Central State—a heated debate was currently underway.

'Fake! This is absolutely fake! Three hundred thousand Blood Demon Guards, and even the Great Saint Realm Demon General Luohou—how could they vanish without even a splash? This must be a deceptive trick by the Great Xia Empress to stabilize people's hearts!' a bearded man shouted, slapping the table as spit flew everywhere.

A swordsman in green robes at the neighboring table gave a cold laugh.

'A deceptive trick? My cousin's Junior Martial Uncle was inside Tianfeng City and saw with his own eyes a hundred golden pillars of light soaring into the sky. The power of the Emperor Formation covered a thousand miles; there was nowhere to escape!'

'That Great Xia Empress clearly calculated that the Heavenly Demon would go there and laid out an inescapable net in advance!'

'Calculated? How did she calculate it? Can she predict the future?'

'Who knows?'

The entire continent fell silent.

Those top-tier forces that were originally watching from the sidelines, waiting to see the Great Xia Divine Dynasty make a fool of itself, were all stunned.

'The Ten Directions Annihilation Formation! Isn't that the nation-protecting Emperor Formation? They just used it like that?'

'The Great Xia Empress... she's simply divine! How did she predict that the Heavenly Demon would attack Tianfeng City?'

For a moment, the whole world was shaken.

The various forces that were still skeptical of Ji Hongxue's 'Heavenly Demon Possession' decree now found the scales in their hearts tipping sharply.

If it weren't true, how could one explain the Great Xia Divine Dynasty's god-like, unpredictable ambush?

Ji Hongxue's prestige climbed to an unprecedented peak at this moment.

On top of her 'iron-blooded' and 'domineering' imperial image, a mysterious halo of being 'flawless in calculation' and 'insightful of heavenly secrets' was added.

Countless small and medium-sized Sects that were originally wavering began to frantically submit their letters of allegiance to the Great Xia Imperial City, hoping to get a share of the upcoming 'Demon-Quelling' feast.

Meanwhile, inside the Demon Hall of the Jiuli Divine Dynasty, the Netherworld Heavenly Demon fell completely into a state of rage and suspicion.

He couldn't figure it out.

He racked his brains but still couldn't understand which part of his plan had gone wrong. It felt like a self-important top-tier card player revealing his trump card, only to find that his opponent had already seen through all his hidden moves and even the cards he was going to play in the next round.

'Pfft!' A mouthful of uncontrollable blood sprayed out, staining the bone desk in front of him pitch black.

This sense of powerlessness and frustration drove him nearly mad, and even a crack appeared in his Dao Heart.

After several consecutive probing attacks were neutralized in advance by the Great Xia Divine Dynasty in inconceivable ways,

the Netherworld Heavenly Demon finally realized that conventional methods of warfare were no longer effective against that mysterious Great Xia Empress.

And so, he completely tore off his disguise.

A bloodier, crazier, and more widespread indiscriminate slaughter was brazenly ignited at the borders between the Central State, the Eastern Wasteland, and the Southern Ridge!

Countless demonized Jiuli soldiers swept through like locusts, no longer attacking fortified cities.

They swarmed frantically toward defenseless villages, small towns, and even the Immortal Caves of Loose Cultivators in the wilderness.

Their sole purpose was slaughter!

To create the maximum range of death at the fastest speed, providing a continuous supply of blood food for the Dominator behind them.

For a time, the entire Xuanyuan Continent was filled with fear and panic.

The clouds of war no longer just loomed over the Central State but began to spread to the entire continent... the Eastern Wasteland, Yaochi Holy Land.

Inside the Holy Master's Great Hall, the atmosphere was oppressive.

The Yaochi Holy Master sat in the main seat, her expression gloomy.

Below, dozens of Yaochi Grand Elders were all filled with righteous indignation.

'Holy Master! We cannot wait any longer! The Jiuli demon brats have already reached the borders of our Eastern Wasteland! Yesterday, the "Qingxia Sect" that was subordinate to our Yaochi was completely slaughtered—all three thousand seven hundred people—overnight!'

'Yes, Holy Master! If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold! As the leader of the Eastern Wasteland, if our Yaochi continues to sit by and do nothing, wouldn't we be laughed at by the whole world?'

The Yaochi Holy Master slowly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping across the people below, finally landing on Ling Qingzhu at the very front.

'Qingzhu, what is your opinion?'

Ling Qingzhu stepped forward and bowed.

Her aloof face was now also covered with a layer of frost.

'Reporting to the Holy Master, this Disciple believes that in this battle, our Yaochi has no way to avoid it.'

Her voice was cold, yet carried an unquestionable determination.

'The calamity of the Heavenly Demon is no longer a matter of one dynasty or one nation, but a catastrophe concerning the survival of all living beings on the entire continent. As a model of the Righteous Path, our Yaochi has an inescapable responsibility.'

The Yaochi Holy Master nodded slowly.

'Good.'

'Pass down my Holy Master's Order!'

'From this day forth, our Yaochi Holy Land officially declares war on the Jiuli Demon Dynasty!'

'I appoint Saintess Ling Qingzhu as the commander-in-chief of the Eastern Wasteland "Demon-Quelling Allied Army," to lead Yaochi and the various Sects of the Eastern Wasteland to jointly crusade against the Heavenly Demon!'

She took the command tally, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force of her grip.

She looked toward the south, in the direction of the Everlasting Su Family, a look of extreme determination flashing in her cold phoenix eyes.

[Ji Hongxue was able to become a legend in one battle, surely it was because of you...]

[Su Chen, wait for me.]

[Wait for me to quell the demon calamity and return to your side with honor, having achieved the peerless merit of protecting the world's common people.]

[At that time, I will let you know that I, Ling Qingzhu, am the one most qualified to stand by your side!]

...Nine Nether Demon Domain, Saintess Palace.

On a throne piled high with grim white bones, Liu Ruyan sat with her long legs crossed. Her dark red skirt, like a flowing blood-colored waterfall, cascaded from the edge of the throne, sliding over her snow-white, smooth skin and finally resting lazily on the cold ground.

Her slender fingers toyed with a Jade Slip, sent by her father—the Cult Leader of the Nine Nether Demonic Cult.

A strong sense of anger emanated from the Jade Slip; the Cult Leader was cursing the actions of the Netherworld Heavenly Demon of the Jiuli Demon Dynasty and had issued a death order to deploy troops.

After listening, instead of getting angry, Liu Ruyan giggled, her body trembling with laughter.

'Tsk, how troublesome. I'm not going! I still have important things to do!' She stuck out her crimson tongue and licked the corner of her mouth, her enchanting phoenix eyes filled with playfulness and disdain.