“Lord Shen, please calm down.” Seeing things going wrong, Song Zhenshan quickly stepped forward to grab his arm. “Divine beings in this world naturally have things they can and cannot do. You are Great Qian’s guardian deity – why not think more about Great Qian?”

“What else is there to think about?” Shen Qiyuan cast a sidelong glance, the tear mole at his eye corner faintly reddening. “I know exactly what he’ll do, yet I can only stand here and watch. Wait for him to return as if nothing happened to resume being the Demon King, then lead Great Xia to make a comeback – he can indeed start over, and at most, I’ll block him again. But what about those who died on the battlefield? Can they come back to life?”

Song Zhenshan and Supreme Lord exchanged glances, both somewhat unable to answer.

They had finally caught the Demon King’s weakness, finally could quell this great disaster, yet because of so-called insufficient evidence, these mortals would have to repeat the same tragedy over and over. Even they couldn’t understand it.

But still.

Song Zhenshan didn’t release his grip: “If you go, Great Qian will lose its protection and face certain defeat. Then the deaths won’t be limited to just these battlefield casualties.”

Behind them, Nine Rivers Prefecture was still immersed in the joy. Bright lanterns hung high, elderly people leaned on walking sticks, gazing emotionally at the distant Nine Rivers, women carried food while calling after their children, youngsters scattered with shrieks then giggled as they ran back together in a heap, their plump hands and feet soft and tender.

All the able-bodied men in the city had enlisted. Once the Great Xia breached the walls, these people would have no chance of survival.

Shen Qiyuan clenched his fists.

“My lord, look quickly.” Song Zhenshan’s eyes suddenly brightened.

Shen Qiyuan looked up and saw a cluster of demon fire suddenly ignite from the direction of the military camp across Nine Rivers. Ghostly blue flames shot skyward, spreading rapidly from the main tent in all directions.

Great Xia soldiers shouted urgently about fighting the fire, and the entire encampment instantly descended into chaos.

A mass of black mist quickly approached the military camp under the cover of night, landing and grabbing someone to ask: “What’s happening?”

Seeing this black mist, the person not only didn’t answer but drew his blade to strike: “Catch the assassin!”

Seventy or eighty soldiers surrounded them with raised swords. The black mist was bewildered: “I am the Second Prince’s honored guest – how dare you!”

“Kill!” The furious roar shook the heavens, and the falling blades showed no mercy.

The black mist fled in panic, soon spotting some demons at the mountain’s base. He quickly flew over and assumed an authoritative stance: “Where is Yunque?”

Those demons looked at him, surprised for only a moment before also attacking: “Someone dares impersonate our king!”

“The Demon King was right – such petty villains cannot be spared. Kill him quickly!”

Puhua was completely confused: “What Demon King? I am your Demon King!”

As his words fell, he exchanged three moves with those demons.

The demons flew back to one side, sneering continuously: “Our Demon King Liu Ruyi has boundless magical power – how could a small demon like you dare impersonate her?”

Having lost his divine bones, most of his cultivation had drained away, making any combat somewhat laborious. Puhua said angrily, “I was only severely wounded fighting celestial deities.”

This explanation might work in the Nine Heavens, but the demons wouldn’t accept it. Now, the most powerful demon was Liu Ruyi, so their king was Liu Ruyi. Acknowledging some weakness would be a joke.

So several demons joined forces, wanting to capture him for a reward.

Puhua was furious and quickly withdrew.

That Liu Ruyi had so quickly seized his position as Demon King, and somehow made him fall from the Second Prince’s favor. He could even deceive the Celestial Emperor, yet he was being defeated by a mere woman.

Dark currents surged in his eyes as Puhua resentfully leaped onto the clouds.

Liu Ruyi stood before the blazing military camp, calmly watching the faint light trail left by Puhua’s ascent.

“My king, it’s burned clean.” Yunque flew back to her side, excitedly saying: “All who knew of the Second Prince’s dealings with our demon clan have been silenced.”

After her excitement, she was somewhat puzzled: “Is this enough?”

Ruyi swept away with her sleeves: “Without the Second Prince, our demon clan can still enjoy Great Xia’s mortal offerings. As long as you can fulfill some small wishes for the Xia people, incense will flow endlessly.”

“We still have to fulfill their wishes?” Yunque wrinkled her face. “Wouldn’t that make us half-immortals?”

“Dream on.” She glanced at her sideways. “Immortals fulfill good wishes – what about you all?”

When Great Xia people made sacrifices, they often cursed others – this was the fundamental reason they would worship demons. Immortals punished evil and promoted good; demons used evil to counter evil.

Yunque nodded with seeming understanding. This was indeed the best solution for their current predicament and could satisfy the clan elders. With the heavy burden lifted, Yunque was happy, but observing the king, she noticed a trace of weariness in her beautiful, long eyes.

“What are you worried about?” Yunque couldn’t help asking.

Ruyi walked slowly outward in her pearl-embroidered shoes: “Too much killing – afraid of being struck by lightning.”

As if responding to her words, distant rumblings suddenly sounded from the horizon. Ruyi shuddered and immediately ran toward the other side of Nine Rivers.

“Hey? My king?” Yunque looked up confused, seeing her run extremely fast, her bright red silk dress hem whipping and flying in the wind, her entire figure resembling a phoenix spreading its wings to fly.

Crack—

The first heavenly thunder struck before the Great Xia military camp, shaking the earth and raising flying sand.

Ruyi’s hair stood on end as she crossed the vast Nine Rivers, facing the bitter night wind mixed with water vapor, suddenly leaping onto the city walls across the river.

Those walls were too high, with immortal formations on the battlements. She rashly climbed up, and the moment she raised her head, her entire body felt electrified, falling uncontrollably downward.

A slender hand suddenly reached out, firmly grasping her pale wrist.

Ruyi looked up in amazement.

Shen Qiyuan held the battlements with one hand and pulled her with the other, his gaze determined: “Come up.”

The corner of her mouth lifted as she borrowed his strength to leap up, jumping over the battlements and flying into his embrace. He naturally lifted her, spinning once in place to dispel the momentum.

Song Zhenshan and Supreme Lord caught up breathlessly, not yet able to complain about how fast he’d run, when Supreme Lord suddenly stiffened.

“There’s a demon!” He swung out his snow-white whisk.

Ruyi was forced to separate from Shen Qiyuan, dodging sideways to avoid the strike. Shen Qiyuan stepped forward to block in front of her: “True Lord, she is Liu Ruyi.”

“So what if she’s Liu Ruyi?” Supreme Lord said anxiously. “She may have been a divine cultivator before, but now she’s a demon. Look at the sins covering her – she just killed someone. Such a demon is exactly what you should eliminate.”

“She killed the Great Xia people.” Shen Qiyuan lowered his eyes. “You just said yourself – I am only Great Qian’s guardian deity.”

“This, this cannot be conflated! Demons don’t distinguish between Great Qian and Great Xia! Step aside quickly!”

Shen Qiyuan stood in place, not only showing no intention of stepping aside but even shielding the person behind him more thoroughly.