20th February, 07:45.
Two hundred soldiers guarded North River Pass’s towering inner-city walls. These soldiers were on sentry duty for two hours before a new batch of soldiers would take over their duties. This guaranteed that every soldier would be extremely alert while on sentry duty. There were 20,000 mortal soldiers at North River Pass, so sentry duty was simple. Of course, when demons launched a large-scale attack, the mortal soldiers would be forced into cruel and bloody battles. The death rate of mortal conscripts was extremely high. Many soldiers that survived were crippled—evidence of how tragic the war between humans and demons was.
Soldiers stared at the World Entrance, not daring to be careless. There was a military judge watching by the side! Any slacking off would result in severe punishment.
Huh?
Thirty-five terrifying figures suddenly appeared at the World Entrance. This stable World Entrance only allowed 35 third Firmament demon monarchs to enter at the same time!
“The demon monarchs are here!” The soldiers jolted to attention as many shouted.
Dong! Dong! Dong! A soldier struck the drum with all his might. The drumbeats reverberated across the entire North River Pass rapidly.
...
Inside his manor, Meng Chuan was practicing the Heart Saber Stance. Liu Qiyue had gone to the archery range. As a sharpshooter at the Great Solar realm, there wasn’t enough space for her to practice her archery in the manor.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The drumbeats jolted Meng Chuan to attention. The beating of the drums signaled an incoming battle. He had waited for too long. He had been looking forward to engaging in combat ever since he was on Archean Mountain.
It’s finally here! Meng Chuan’s eyes fiercely flashed as he transformed into a bolt of lightning. In a flash, he arrived at the outer city wall near the mansion. He then charged toward the inner city pass.
...
They are here again? Zhang Yunhu—who was cultivating his spear art—suddenly stopped. With a wave of his hand, he carried a large bundle of short spears and rushed towards the city wall.
“Brother-in-law!” Yang Xingwu also carried many short spears and rushed towards the city wall.
...
Shi Xiu—who had been sleeping in Gentle Hamlet—suddenly opened his eyes when he heard the drum. He rushed out of the building, his robes and boots on the bed disappearing. The woman wearing a red dudou on the bed was still in a daze. Although she was dazed, she became wide awake when she heard the beating drums—even when she was a renowned courtesan at a brothel.
The demons are attacking North River Pass? She got out of bed, put on her robe, walked to the balcony, and looked in the direction of the inner-city walls.
The soldiers were quickly mobilized. Godfiends charged towards the city pass.
We have to win. We have to win. The renowned courtesan clasped her hands together and silently prayed.
...
It’s beginning. Countless people on the streets looked in the direction of the inner-city walls. The inner city would become a bloody battlefield. Godfiends and mortal soldiers would be strong blockades against the demons.
We must win. People prayed. Although they would encounter demon attacks two to three times a year, the ordinary residents of North River Pass would feel nervous every single time. They knew that if they failed to hold North River Pass, a major disaster would ensue.
...
Lightning flashed and landed on the city wall. It was Meng Chuan.
Meng Chuan was the first to arrive at the inner-city walls. He was dressed in a dark-cyan robe. Demon Slayer hung by his waist as he stared at the World Entrance. Thirty-five demon monarchs were struggling to pass through the World Entrance.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The other Godfiends arrived one after another.
Zhang Yunhu, Liu Qiyue, Mu Qing, Yu Chiyan, Yang Xingwu, Shi Xiu, and Fan Cheng arrived beside Meng Chuan.
“The World Entrance’s passageway is hundreds of feet long. When passing it, they will be obstructed by the void,” said Zhang Yunhu. “This World Entrance is very large, allowing a third-Firmament demon monarch to pass through within seconds. However, if 35 third-Firmament demon monarchs were to enter at the same time, they would take much longer to pass through the passageway. It will take them a minute to traverse it.”
Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue nodded. They were rookies, but they knew this. The stronger one was, the greater the difficulty of passing through the World Entrance.
“If one or two of them barged in, we could kill them easily. However, it would be a tough battle if all 35 third Firmament demon monarchs enter together,” said Zhang Yunhu. “Take action according to our plans.”
“Let’s go.”
“Kill the demon monarchs.”
They jumped down from the walls immediately. Meng Chuan looked at Liu Qiyue and nodded before jumping down with Zhang Yunhu, Shi Xiu, and company.
Only Liu Qiyue and Fan Cheng were left behind on the city walls. Two Godfiend archers rushed over to them.
“Senior Sister Liu, Senior Brother Fan.” The two Godfiend sharpshooters were humble. They were Archean Mountain disciples and Indestructible Godfiends! However, their arrows could threaten third Firmament demon monarchs.
“I will protect you well.” Fan Cheng held a large shield in one hand and a hammer in the other.
Boom!
The large shield landed on the city wall’s ground as Fan Cheng released his Quintessential Essence in all directions. He formed a thousand-foot-wide four-element domain of earth, fire, wind, and water around him.
Fan Cheng had a perfected high-grade Godfiend Body—the Four Symbols Divine Body. He was born with tremendous strength and had a robust Godfiend foundation. He was skilled with the shield and hammer. He could fend off ten ordinary third Firmament demon monarchs alone. With the Four Symbols domain, he was best at protecting others. He was responsible for protecting the Godfiend sharpshooters. Of course, Liu Qiyue was extremely powerful herself.
Ah Chuan, be careful. Liu Qiyue held her bow and looked down from the city wall, waiting in anticipation.
...
Six Great Solar Godfiends landed below the 800 foot high walls. The ground was covered in water. At a glance, it looked like a lake, but the water was only one-and-a-half feet deep.
Good. Standing on the water surface, Meng Chuan nodded slightly. This much water was enough.
“Stick to the plan,” said Zhang Yunhu.
“Yes,” the other five immediately replied. During a battle, they had to obey orders. They couldn’t act recklessly.
Meng Chuan, Mu Qing, and Shi Xiu were to take the periphery. Yang Xingwu, Yu Chiyan, and Zhang Yunhu were to be protected.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Countless cyan threads quickly penetrated the void and gathered the Heaven and Earth powers. The cyan threads increased in number, quickly forming a domain that spanned half a kilometer. Yang Xingwu dedicated her life and effort to domains; she was extremely skilled with domains. Other Godfiends in North River Pass were much weaker when it came to domains.
Zhang Yunhu, Liu Qiyue, and Fan Cheng had domains that came with their Godfiend bodies. However, their domains were relatively small, and their inclinations were different. Liu Qiyue’s fire domain was mainly to kill enemies. It was much weaker when it came to supporting teammates. Meng Chuan’s baneful aura domain was the same. Fan Cheng’s Four Symbol domain was good at defense!
Furthermore, Liu Qiyue was good at archery, Meng Chuan was good with the saber, and Zhang Yunhu was good with short spears. Yang Xingwu focused only on domains. Her domain was very comprehensive. She suppressed, restrained, attacked, and fended off enemies. Yang Xingwu was extremely important to the other Godfiends.
“Brace yourselves. They are coming,” said Zhang Yunhu in a low voice.
Meng Chuan stared at the World Entrance with narrowed eyes.
Be it the Godfiends below or the Godfiends and soldiers on the city walls; all were extremely solemn.
“Thirty-five demon monarchs. Seven have unknown capabilities,” said Zhang Yunhu. “Everyone, be careful.”
Meng Chuan had already read the dossiers. Humans knew the capabilities of demon monarchs they had fought before. It was difficult to plan for opponents they had never fought before.
“They’re coming.”
Meng Chuan felt his blood boiling, but his mind remained extremely clear.
The moment the 35 demon monarchs walked out of the World Entrance—
Attack. With a thought from Yang Xingwu, countless sharp, cyan threads attacked the demon monarchs skillfully.
Three fiery arrows flew from the city wall and streaked across the air, instantly arriving at the World Entrance. The third Firmament demon monarchs unleashed various techniques. Two demon monarchs had countless vines growing from their bodies. A tiger demon monarch roared, causing black demonic winds to sweep out! Some demon monarchs produced poisonous fog with a wave of their hands. Some demon monarchs made black spikes and tentacles burrow underground...
Over ten third Firmament demon monarchs attacked simultaneously. The demon monarchs that were good at only melee combat held back.
The three arrows Liu Qiyue shot caused the demon monarchs who had just exited the World Entrance to suffer immediately. The demon monarchs didn’t manage to coordinate perfectly.
A rhinoceros demon monarch struck one arrow with his gigantic palm without care! The arrow penetrated his palm. The burning flames consumed him; he had no way of extinguishing it. The rhinoceros demon monarch’s hand was about to be lost! Furthermore, the flames rapidly spread across his body.
While he was panicking, Zhang Yunhu threw a short spear with all his might. The short spear transformed into a golden beam of light, causing the void to distort. It was extremely fast. After the rhinoceros demon was pierced by the arrow, the short spear appeared in front of it. He managed to block the arrow with his left hand, but he missed the short spear. The short spear penetrated his head.
The third Firmament rhinoceros demon monarch—one that had thick hide and flesh—died on the spot.
Zhang Yunhu could match a Marquis Godfiend. He could kill a third Firmament demon monarch easily as long as he had an opportunity.
“Be careful.”
“That sharpshooter is Liu Qiyue. She cultivates the Phoenix Divine Body. Don’t let her flames touch your body.” The demon monarchs also received intelligence reports. Although they didn’t know that Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue had come to North River Pass, they knew the basics about Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue. They had dossiers on them.
Whoosh!
Countless vines spread out and enveloped the surroundings as black winds howled.
Resilient silk surrounded the thirty-plus demon monarchs. Domains began forming. Liu Qiyue’s sneak attack was effective due to the enemy being unaware of her existence and because they had lacked defensive domains.
The three arrows and the spear led to a demon monarch losing his life.
“Very good.” Zhang Yunhu and Mu Qing revealed looks of delight. It was very rare to kill a third Firmament demon monarch the moment they clashed. After all, demon monarchs would cooperate with one another during battles. Killing one was not easy.
“Kill!” Zhang Yunhu ordered.
“Junior Brother Meng, don’t worry. We will help you.” Mu Qing and Shi Xiu sent a voice transmission so that Meng Chuan relaxed. Both of them were responsible for protecting the rest with Meng Chuan.
Each person was responsible for one side of the team. Mu Qing and Shi Xiu were already prepared to help Meng Chuan once the battle began. He would be fine once he got used to it.
“Okay.” Meng Chuan was extremely cautious. He carefully scanned his surroundings with his perception domain as he charged over with Mu Qing and Shi Xiu.
The Godfiends and demon monarchs were not far apart from one another. In the blink of an eye, the two sides clashed. Meng Chuan could hear the demon monarchs’ thunderous breathing.
Here it comes! Meng Chuan felt his blood boiling as his battle intent surged. He held Demon Slayer and watched the demon monarchs charge over.