353: Chapter 353 Completely Eradicate the Demon Realm!

Chu Chunqiu and Song Zhen were the first to return to Great Gan.

Outside Holy Dragon City in the early morning, the Wine Gourd Magic Treasure hung in mid-air, glowing with a warm vermillion luster under the morning light.

Chu Chunqiu had one hand on his hip and the other patting Li Shengyuan's shoulder, using so much force it seemed as if he wanted to pour all the brotherhood from their journey into those pats.

"Brother Shengyuan, I'll take my leave first. I have to report back to the old man and keep an eye on this kid's secluded cultivation for his Breakthrough." He glanced at the bitter-faced Song Zhen beside him. "I can't let him keep slacking off like this."

Song Zhen's lips twitched. Hearing about bitter cultivation, his face immediately fell as he muttered softly, "A Third Grade Breakthrough isn't that easy..."

"Shut up!" Chu Chunqiu glared. "You're going into seclusion as soon as we get back. Don't even think about stepping out until you break through!"

Song Zhen completely withered, dejectedly squatting to the side to draw circles on the ground.

Li Shengyuan smiled and shook his head, patting Chu Chunqiu's arm. "Senior Brother, you guys head back first. Once I return to the capital, we'll gather again. At that time..."

He paused, his smile deepening, "You'll still have to drink at my wedding."

Chu Chunqiu's eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily. "That's a must! For Brother Shengyuan's wedding wine, I'll crawl there if I have to! But don't blame me for being ruthless then; I'll get you so drunk you won't be able to enter the bridal chamber!"

"I'll be waiting for that then," Li Shengyuan laughed.

Long Qingcheng stood to the side, waiting for the two to finish before stepping forward.

In her hand, she held a palm-sized wine chalice, dark gold in color and carved with dragon patterns, with a faint aroma of wine wafting out.

"Young Master Chu, I previously offered you treasures as thanks for your help, but you wouldn't accept them, and I could not force you." She handed the chalice over. "Inside is some of the Dragon Clan's private vintage; consider it a small token of my gratitude."

Chu Chunqiu's eyes immediately lit up. He took the chalice with both hands, swept it with his Divine Sense, and his face blossomed into a smile. "Your Majesty is too kind! This wine... good wine! It's much better than what's in my ragged gourd!"

Long Qingcheng then looked at Song Zhen and took out a fist-sized bead with a faint flowing light swirling inside. "Young Master Song, your contributions in this battle were immense. This Heart-Calming Bead can help stabilize your mind during a Breakthrough; consider it a small gift of thanks from me."

Song Zhen waved his hands repeatedly. "Your Majesty, this is too precious, I cannot..."

"Take it." Li Shengyuan pressed down on his shoulder. "It's from the Her Majesty the Queen, don't be polite."

Chu Chunqiu slapped the back of Song Zhen's head. "If she tells you to take it, take it! Stop dawdling!"

Song Zhen rubbed the back of his head, muttering internally that Chu Chunqiu hadn't accepted the previous gifts either. Finally, he shyly took the bead and thanked her:

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Long Qingcheng nodded slightly and stepped back.

Chu Chunqiu flipped onto the Wine Gourd and reached out to pull Song Zhen up as well.

The Wine Gourd slowly rose into the air. He stood on the gourd's spout and waved to those below.

"Brother Shengyuan, see you in the capital!"

"See you in the capital!"

The Wine Gourd turned into a streak of vermillion light and streaked away through the air.

Song Zhen lay flat on the tail of the gourd, waving frantically downward until those figures completely disappeared into the clouds.

Li Shengyuan stood on the city wall, watching for a long time before withdrawing his gaze.

The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by an expression so calm it was almost cold.

He turned to look at Long Yun and Pei Shuyun beside him.

"Let's go." His voice was light, but it carried an unquestionable tone. "There are still some matters that need to be cleared up!"

In the following days, an unprecedented purge swept through the Demon Domain.

Li Shengyuan led Long Yun, Pei Shuyun, and the Dragon Clan elites out from Holy Dragon City, heading west and then turning south, rooting out the Demonic Cult remnants hidden throughout the Demon Domain one by one.

Simultaneously, they completely destroyed the foundations of the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array within the Demon Domain, allowing the land to regain its vitality.

They helped Long Qingcheng's Dragon Clan subordinates completely occupy the territories of the rebellious Demon Kings!

Although Long Qingcheng had previously unified the Demon Domain, it had been more like a system of enfeoffed lords. She couldn't actually interfere with what the Demon Kings did in their territories; at most, she could mobilize them. It was very difficult to actually occupy their lands.

Otherwise, the Demonic Cult wouldn't have been able to infiltrate so severely.

Now, using this purge as a pretext, they could rightfully take over the territories of the various Demon Kings!

Those Demonic Cult Venerables who were lucky enough to escape, the Yao Race scum who clung to the Demonic Cult, and the Loose Cultivator bandits who took advantage of the chaos had nowhere to hide under Li Shengyuan's Divine Sense coverage!

Often, he would close his eyes to sense for a moment, then open them and say faintly, "Over there." Long Yun would then pounce out like a streak of golden light, with Pei Shuyun following closely behind.

When they returned, their hands would be stained with blood, but their eyes held smiles.

"Three of them. One Fourth Grade, two Fifth Grade," Long Yun said lightheartedly, shaking the blood droplets from her hand.

"Two on my side, both Fourth Grade." Pei Shuyun wiped her blade, the corners of her mouth curling slightly.

Li Shengyuan nodded. "Next location."

Without redundant words, the three figures leaped up again, disappearing into the vast night.

The experts from the Dragon Clan and other Yao tribes following behind the three couldn't help but click their tongues in secret; they were truly ruthless and decisive...

Sometimes they encountered difficult characters, such as a Third Grade Demonic Cult expert entrenched in an abandoned mineral vein with over a dozen subordinates and layers of Formations.

In Great Gan, they couldn't openly mine veins to increase their strength, but in the Demon Domain, with the protection of the local Demon Kings, they could mine resources without worry.

It was no wonder the Demonic Cult still possessed impressive strength despite the suppression from Great Gan!

Long Yun tried to charge once but was pushed back, a small cut added to her arm.

"Let me." Li Shengyuan stepped forward.

He didn't use Blade and Sword Divine Domain; he simply raised his hand and pressed down into the air.

The layers of Formations shattered like paper, and the Demonic Cult remnants hiding within didn't even have time to scream before being ground into dust.

Long Yun watched, dumbstruck, marvelling at the massive gap in their strength. Pei Shuyun, however, only smiled slightly, her eyes holding a hint of pride.

"Let's go." Li Shengyuan withdrew his hand and turned to leave.

Long Yun was stunned for a second before quickly following, unable to resist stealing glances at him.

That back looked exceptionally tall and straight under the moonlight, and exceptionally... heart-stirring.

As the days passed, the three of them covered more and more ground, and their cooperation became increasingly seamless.

From her initial reckless charging, Long Yun gradually learned to observe and wait.

Pei Shuyun's sword became sharper, her strikes more decisive.

As for Li Shengyuan, he remained as calm and composed as ever, only occasionally helping them tend to wounds or handing over a flask of water after a battle.

Only when they were lucky enough to encounter a Second Grade Demonic Cult Venerable would Li Shengyuan's eyes light up as he took action, but even then, he would turn them to ash with a single palm strike...

After reaching First Grade, a Second Grade Demonic Cult Venerable could no longer pose the slightest threat to him!

The camaraderie of fighting side-by-side was deeper than any words.

The trust placed in each other during battle, the wordless coordination, and the shared smiles of understanding after a fight made the relationship between the three closer and more natural without them even realizing it.

Over ten days later, when the last Demonic Cult Venerable who had fled Holy Dragon City was executed, Li Shengyuan stood on a mountain peak, looking at the Demon Domain land below that was gradually regaining its vitality, and let out a long sigh of relief.

During this time, they had traveled through the vast majority of the Demon Domain and seen the different landscapes across the region.

Although they were purging Demonic Cult remnants, under the crushing weight of absolute strength, it felt as easy as a vacation for the three of them...

"That's about it." He turned to look at Long Yun and Pei Shuyun behind him. "It's time for us to return to Great Gan as well."

Long Yun opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she simply nodded.