63: Before the war

Qingzhou.

Tianyuan City.

A hundred miles outside the city, a massive swarm of demons transformed into dark clouds, their Demonic Qi soaring to the heavens and shrouding the entire city.

At this moment, on the city walls, torches wrapped in black pine wood and soaked in grease illuminated the sky, reflecting many solemn and grim faces.

The Demon Suppression Division, the city's Military Guard, major noble families, and top Schools had all arrived from all directions the very day scouts confirmed the invasion by the Demon Kings.

"The Demon Kings invading Qingzhou—what a grand display." Su Jiansheng stood on the city wall, clutching his sword. His gaze was devoid of joy or sorrow, with only his Sword Intent surging around him; his cultivation had actually reached the Quenching Fiend Realm.

"Oh? Who would have thought that Brother Su would quietly make a Breakthrough to the Quenching Fiend Realm? Among all the Schools in Tianyuan City, Brother Su must be the first of the younger generation." White Gold still wore his usual irreverent expression, pulling a handful of fennel beans from the pouch at his waist and stuffing them into his mouth.

"The first?" Su Jiansheng said with self-deprecating laughter: "Not to mention that Chen Yanran made her Breakthrough to the Quenching Fiend Realm a month before me.

And then there is that person...

Old General Guo, who guards Green Wave Pool, once sent word that he had slain a Dragon Lord—that was a demon at the Peak Demon Lord level.

What is my meager cultivation compared to that?

Besides, I must thank that person for allowing me to rapidly refine the True Qi within my body using Earth Fiend Qi."

Seemingly sensing Su Jiansheng's intent, the sword in his arms let out a soft hum.

Upon hearing this, White Gold suddenly felt the fragrant fennel beans in his mouth lose their flavor.

Comparing oneself to others only invites frustration.

That person was simply a Prodigy, completely defying common sense.

Not far away, clad in mysterious armor, Chen Yanran stood at a weak point in the city's defensive Formation, looking heroic and spirited, like a female general.

Suddenly, her ears twitched as she heard Su Jiansheng's words, and a complex feeling welled up in her heart.

"The first of the younger generation in Qingzhou, is it..."

The figure of a certain person appeared in her mind.

At this moment, a commotion reached her ears.

"Pah, what 'first of the younger generation in Qingzhou.' With a great battle imminent, he's nowhere to be seen. I think he's just a coward and a deserter." A Shen Family Disciple sneered.

"Exactly, exactly."

"Nine times out of ten, he knew the demons were coming and hid in advance. A person like that has a fragile state of mind; even if he gains power for a moment, he won't get very far."

The jeers from groups of people reached their ears, making several Officers of the Demon Suppression Division furious, their fists clenching involuntarily.

Ever since the battle to destroy Biyou Palace, everyone in the Demon Suppression Division had been thoroughly convinced by Li Jiangchen, viewing him as a role model.

Yet now, being mocked by a group of noble family Disciples, a Demon Suppression Division Disciple immediately attacked in anger, only to be knocked to the ground.

The leading Shen Family Disciple was speaking until his face turned red, when suddenly, a beautiful figure walked up to him. A fawning expression immediately appeared on his face: "Yanran..."

Slap!

A loud slap echoed through the air, causing the surroundings to fall silent.

A clear handprint appeared on the Shen Family Disciple's face. The intense pain left him both ashamed and angry. Rubbing his burning cheek, he said viciously: "Chen Yanran, you!"

Before he could finish, a cold Sword Intent locked onto him, and cold sweat immediately seeped from the Shen Family Disciple's forehead.

This woman actually dared to strike!

Chen Yanran's face was as cold as frost as she said coldly: "With a great battle imminent, if you dare to spout nonsense again and disrupt the morale of the army, I will deal with you according to military law."

Everyone immediately lowered their heads, daring not to utter another word, and dispersed.

At this moment.

Inner City.

Demon Suppression Division.

"Trouble. The magnetic Restriction of the Suspended Mountain has suddenly disappeared. According to intelligence from the front lines, four Demon Kings will invade our Qingzhou this time." Yue Tuyao said with a grave expression.

Upon hearing this, the Shen Family Ancestor sighed: "The Demon Kings of the Suspended Mountain are all ancient monsters; I don't know how many years they have lived. One-on-one, I fear my old bones will not have the advantage."

"Then where is the demon slaying general, Guo Yun?" Yue Tuyao frowned.

There were, of course, more than just the three of them who were Guanshen Realm Martial Artists in Qingzhou, but like Old Master Chen, most of them were guarding some strategic location and could not get away.

If Qingzhou were to have one less Guanshen Realm Martial Artist, the probability of defending the city would likely drop to thirty or forty percent.

The Prefecture City General, Yan Shisan, sighed: "It's unfortunate. Guo Yun only went to the Jingji School to report back a month ago. Even if we use the eight-thousand-mile Cloud Crane transmission, Guo Yun definitely cannot make it back within three days."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Shen Family Ancestor's heart skipped a beat, as if a heavy stone had fallen to the ground.

At this moment, a golden light streaked into the inner hall, manifesting as an old man in golden armor.

"Old General Chen, why are you here?" Yue Tuyao said pleasantly surprised.

"Hmph, if I didn't come, I fear Qingzhou would be hard to save." Old General Chen sat on the main seat on his own, yet no one felt it was inappropriate. The person before them had slain countless demons, and his cultivation was even above that of the three people present.

The three realms of God Viewing are divided into Divine Ability, Embracing the Core, and Grandmaster.

Old Master Chen had already made his Breakthrough to Embracing the Core three hundred years ago and condensed an Incense Yin Spirit.

"Rest assured, the Wind Demon King of Dao Feng Cliff is being watched by my trusted aides, and with the assistance of the Formation, there won't be any problems within three days."

Old Master Chen muttered: "It is a pity that the old Daoist of Biyou Palace went down the wrong path; otherwise, our Qingzhou would not be so passive."

As he spoke, he changed the subject and turned to Yue Tuyao: "Is that kid not here?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Tuyao said with a grave expression: "A month ago, Li Jiangchen left Qingzhou, so he is indeed not in the city right now. However, this person is definitely not one to fear death. And..."

"And what?"

"Some time ago, a strange event occurred at the Demon Suppression Division." Yue Tuyao recalled: "That day, a trace of Divine Ability aura suddenly appeared at the Demon Suppression Division. At first, I thought a Guanshen Realm existence was visiting, but the Formations all over the Demon Suppression Division were not triggered at all. Later, I thought about it carefully; a Divine Ability... is not necessarily unique to Guanshen Realm Martial Artists."

In an instant, the three of them cast their gazes over in unison.

A sharp light appeared in Old Master Chen's eyes, and his voice even trembled slightly: "You mean... that kid condensed a Divine Body."

Yue Tuyao nodded.

"Good." Old Master Chen immediately lowered his voice: "Keep this matter strictly confidential. Once the news leaks, I fear it won't just be the Demon Kings of the Suspended Mountain invading our Qingzhou."

"Yes."

...

Demonic cloud.

A wisp of golden Sword Qi floated above a bronze compass. The three meteor stars on the compass trembled, triggering a burst of starlight power, and the tip of the Sword Qi immediately pointed toward the distant Tianyuan City.

"Scorpion Tail, your compass is truly not mistaken? That person's aura is in Qingzhou?" The Golden Scale Demon King looked at the constantly trembling Sword Qi, half-believing and half-doubting.

"Rest assured. My Three-Star Compass is an imitation of the ancient Nine-Star Compass. Although it is only a semi-Spiritual Artifact, it still has the ability to find and locate people. Even if that person is not in Qingzhou, he is inextricably linked to Qingzhou." The Scorpion Tail Demon King explained.

"Hmph, why waste words? With a population of over one hundred million in Qingzhou, if we eat them all, won't that settle everything?"

Roar—

As he spoke, the towering White-Browed Tiger King revealed his true form, transforming into a three-eyed white tiger a hundred zhang in size, blotting out the sky and sun.

He opened his mouth abruptly, and the sound waves of his tiger roar spread for hundreds of miles. Wherever it passed, sand and stones flew, and living creatures bled from their seven orifices, being shaken to death on the spot.

The powerful sound waves quickly spread to the defensive Formation of Tianyuan City, causing the defensive Formation to tremble violently and ripple.

"Not good, Demon King invasion."

"All city, prepare for defense!"

Woo-woo-woo—

Horns and war drums resounded across the heavens and earth. The dark clouds of demons transformed into a torrent, rushing rapidly toward Tianyuan City.