436: Chapter 436 Black Mountain

Nanjiang.

Deep within the Endless Great Mountains, a massive black city loomed, with a black mountain in its center piercing the clouds, its height unknowable.

The Holy Land of the Endless Yao Race, Black Mountain Demon City—the core of the Demon Court was situated atop that mountain whose peak was lost in the clouds.

The Yao Race has a strict hierarchy; those below the third Rank can only reside in the demon city below, while only those with third-Rank Bloodlines or higher are qualified to ascend the mountain.

Among them, those with third-Rank Bloodlines are restricted to the foot of the mountain, while those with fourth-Rank Bloodlines can move about the mountainside. As for the summit, it is the territory of Demon Saint Xuanyu's clan, and entry is forbidden to any other Yao under normal circumstances.

Today, the usually quiet Holy Hall at the summit was exceptionally lively. Demon Saint Xuanyu had issued an order, summoning every Nascent Soul Demon Lord under the Demon Court's command.

"Everyone, the Human Race's Pioneering War is now inevitable. If you do not wish to lose your territory, become slaves, or be refined into Medicinal Pills, the only way is to win this war head-on!"

Demon Saint Xuanyu's raspy voice echoed through the vast Holy Hall. "Daoist Lord Lihuo is merely a newly ascended Soul Transformation cultivator. If he dares to come, I can destroy him with a wave of my hand. You need not worry too much!"

Since the start of the Near-Ancient Era, the higher-ups of the Human Race's Dao Court have focused on their own cultivation, rarely launching external campaigns.

The intensity of the Wars of Opening is far less than in the past. Most are initiated by newly ascended Dao Monarchs or those who lost power struggles within the Dao Court seeking a new path.

Over the last ten thousand years, the probability of the Yao Race of the four directions successfully resisting the Human Race's Wars of Opening has been increasing, with even instances of counter-attacks to reclaim human territory.

Although the atmosphere in the Holy Hall was oppressive, it had not reached the point of despair. Some of the more hot-tempered Demon Lords were even brimming with high spirits.

"Great Saint, just tell us what to do! Old Bull has been wanting to stretch my limbs and get a few Human Race Golden Cores to taste!"

Compared to Demon Cores, Human Race Golden Cores are more stable, contain more Spiritual Qi, and hold insights into the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. To the Yao Race, they are top-tier natural Medicinal Pills.

Unfortunately, they are hard to obtain. Human Race Golden Core True Persons have such strong control over their Golden Cores that they can self-detonate them in hopeless situations. Not only would one get nothing, but there's also a risk of injury.

Furthermore, the Human Race is powerful and proficient in Formations. Even if a Demon Lord were greedy, they wouldn't dare run wild in the territory of a Human Sect.

It's different now. The Pioneering War has begun, and the humans are coming to us. What is there to fear? Let's fight them!

"Great Saint, I say we strike first. Since that coward Peach Blossom has joined the Beast Taming Sect, there's no need to delay. Let's first destroy that South Courtyard and kill Peach Blossom while we're at it!"

"Right! If we delay, the Beast Taming Sect's reinforcements will only increase, which is worse for us. We must wipe out their vanguard before they can establish a foothold!"

Among the Nascent Soul Demon Lords, those whose territories were closer to the Peach Blossom Sect were the most anxious. If they continued to delay, their lands would become the battlefield when the Beast Taming Sect eventually attacked, making them the first to suffer losses.

To keep the battlefield within the Peach Blossom Sect, many of these Demon Lord factions had sent reinforcements there. Now that the Peach Blossom Demon Lord had betrayed them, interests aside, everyone hated her to the core.

"Good!"

"Very good!"

Emotions and interests were both satisfied. Seeing everyone's high Battle Intent, Demon Saint Xuanyu's lips curled into a hideous smile.

"There is no time to lose. Return immediately and mobilize your armies. In one month, I will personally lead you to destroy the Beast Taming Sect and execute the traitor Peach Blossom!"

At the mention of Peach Blossom, Demon Saint Xuanyu's snake-like eyes turned cold. This female demon had tricked him into helping her resist the Beast Taming Sect, used the flesh and blood of countless Yao from his Demon Court to set up the Myriad Spirits Grand Array to refine a supreme treasure, and then used that treasure alongside Daoist Lord Lihuo to oppose him!

In his thousands of years of life, Demon Saint Xuanyu had never suffered such a loss!

He couldn't bear it; he absolutely couldn't bear it! He had to kill Peach Blossom as soon as possible to vent the malice in his heart.

"As you command!"

"As you command!"

...The Nascent Soul Demon Lords transformed into streaks of light and flew off, returning to their territories to mobilize troops according to Demon Saint Xuanyu's orders... Demon Saint Xuanyu was mobilizing the Endless Demon Court on a massive scale. There were at least dozens of Nascent Soul Demon Lords and countless Golden Core Great Demons. Moreover, he was going to set out personally, truly showing his absolute intent to kill the Peach Blossom Demon Lord.

The Soul Transformation Realm touches upon the Laws of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Excessive use of Law power inevitably leads to backlash from the world.

In large-scale wars throughout history, Spirit Transformation Dao Lords only act at critical moments. Usually, they only use their Dharma Idols to strike, much like Daoist Lord Lihuo did previously.

Under normal circumstances, if not for the misjudgment that the Peach Blossom Demon Lord was about to force a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation, the Dharma Idols of Daoist Lord Lihuo and Demon Saint Xuanyu would not have appeared.

Large-scale wars obscure the secrets of heaven, and participation brings uncertainty. If Demon Saint Xuanyu truly sets out in person to deal with the Peach Blossom Demon Lord, the risks he must bear are not small.

The Beast Taming Sect is powerful, with many Spirit Transformation Dao Lords, and even top-tier experts at the Late Stage of Soul Transformation.

If he does not leave the Black Mountain Holy Land, even if the Endless Great Mountains are entirely consumed, he could still retreat calmly at the end; even a Late Stage Soul Transformation Dao Monarch would find it hard to stop him.

A Dao Monarch has a Lifespan of ten thousand years, and the territory they manage is both their influence and a part of their strength.

All Spiritual Veins in the Endless Demon Court carry Demon Saint Xuanyu's aura. Within them, his strength receives a boost, and the degree of backlash he suffers is lower.

For instance, during the last battle at the Peach Blossom Sect, if the location had been within the Demon Court's borders, his Xuanyu Dharma Idol would never have been so easily repelled by the Peach Blossom Demon Lord and the Dharma Idol of Demon Lord Li Huo, who had come from across the provinces.

Now that Peach Blossom has joined the Beast Taming Sect, the Peach Blossom Sect will soon become the Beast Taming Sect's home ground. His best strategy would be to send an army to counter-attack; even if he acts personally, he should advance slowly from the border to be safe.

Rushing into the Peach Blossom Sect recklessly—if Daoist Lord Lihuo's Dharma Idol appears again, he would be risking his life against a mere avatar, which is highly unfavorable!

If a few more Dharma Idols were to appear, he might lose his life prematurely, and the war would end before it even began!

...Liu Xuan didn't know what Demon Saint Xuanyu was thinking, nor did he care right now, because he wasn't at the Peach Blossom Sect—he had returned to the Red Pine Sect.

Having not seen Liu Xuan for a long time, Lin Xue'er and Yue Li were excessively passionate, and Liu Xuan had to soothe their emotions first.

The two women had stayed behind to help Liu Xuan look after several hundred children. Not to mention the hard work, they also didn't receive his affection; their sacrifice was by no means small.

Liu Xuan remembered all of this clearly. Now that the war at the Peach Blossom Sect was over, it was time to repay them!

Xiao Changfeng was called back by Liu Xuan to oversee things. Liu Xuan planned to treat the Red Pine Sect as a base for the Liu Family, leaving only Dao Hong and other children to manage it slowly, while the rest of the members would gradually move to the Peach Blossom Sect.

"Husband~"

"I heard the war at the Peach Blossom Sect is over. Does this mean I don't have to stay at the Red Pine Sect anymore and can stay by your side?"

Lin Xue'er's face was flushed, her watery eyes looking at Liu Xuan expectantly.

On the other side, Yue Li also looked at Liu Xuan expectantly. She not only wanted to be by Liu Xuan's side but also missed her Revered Master, Shen Yunshu, whom she hadn't seen in a long time!

"Do you really want to stay by my side all the time?"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Both women nodded simultaneously.

"Good! Let me see just how much you want it."

...