And the Mirage Realm was the same. Beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate was, in truth, a vast battlefield.

The difference was, the Mirage Realm centered around the three major forces: Decisive Ming Island, Fishing Sea Tower, and the Valley. Beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, however, it was the collected might of the world’s pillars holding the line.

No matter how one put it, the Martial An Marquis was a legitimate military merit Marquis. When formally heading to the battlefield, he naturally could not go alone. Thus, in addition to White Jade Flaw, he also brought Fang Yuanyou and a guard detail of two hundred men.

These two hundred men, of course, could not compare to the elites of the Nine Graduates. However, they were all seasoned veterans who had followed Jiang Wang in the Suppression of Xia War, far more formidable than the average county soldiers.

At this moment, everyone was fully armed and armored, lined up behind Jiang Wang in neat ranks.

Two hundred men, not a single sound.

“These several sub-gates outside the Middle Domain all possess the possibility of being destroyed. As long as a certain price is paid, they can be severed. Therefore, for the demon race to counterattack the present world, they can still only pass through that Ten Thousand Demons Gate left behind by the Human Emperor.”

Within the Chang Ji Water Stronghold, Song Yao gave Jiang Wang a detailed explanation: “Of course, the possibility of the demon race counterattacking the present world essentially no longer exists. The so-called ‘contending for the present world again’ is merely a lingering delusion of a few undying elders of the demon race.”

As the largest water army camp in Qi Country, the structures spanning the Zi River were merely the main body of the Chang Ji Water Stronghold. Its true form was extremely vast, with buildings on both sides unfolding like two wings.

If viewed from a high altitude, it resembled a mighty Eagle striking the water. The south bank extended further south, while the north bank extended further north, but neither went more than three to five li from the shore. Then, the buildings on both wings all plunged underground.

Following Song Yao into the Water Stronghold, Jiang Wang walked into the underground, turning south. He passed through heavy checkpoints, the security quite stringent.

The majority of the buildings on the south wing of the Chang Ji Water Stronghold were underground. Jiang Wang felt as though they spanned half of Ji Chuan County, reaching close to the Bridge Mountain Corridor.

“Do the buildings on the north wing of the Chang Ji Water Stronghold extend this far as well? It feels like a very majestic underground city.” He asked.

As long as the conversation didn’t touch upon the Green Stone Palace incident, Jiang Wang didn’t mind exchanging a few more words with True Person Song.

A court physician’s insights and knowledge were absolutely worth his humble learning.

“That is not the case.” The topic of the Green Stone Palace seemed to have been mentioned casually, and Song Yao did not bring it up again. Instead, he earnestly resolved the young man’s doubts: “The reason why the underground buildings on the south wing extend this far and are built so vastly is primarily for ensuring secrecy while also facilitating the movement of large armies. In fact, there is not just one entrance here. It’s not only the Chang Ji Water Stronghold that leads to this place. Places like Bridge Mountain County and Yi Yue County also have entrances.”

He looked around: “In fact, this entire area shouldn’t be called the south wing of the Chang Ji Water Stronghold. Many people call it the Ji Chuan Underground City.”

This vast, empty space, spanning as far as the eye could see, could almost accommodate a host of a thousand armies and ten thousand cavalry.

Imagining the grand scene of a large army setting out from here naturally evoked a sense of majesty.

And the external manifestation of the Ten Thousand Demons Gate was not in the form of a door. To be more accurate, it should be described as a curtain wall of light. In the center of this massive square stood an exceptionally noble purple light curtain,

Like a load-bearing wall, standing there alone.

Walking in from any side led to the world where the demon race survived.

That was also the battlefield where the human race had bravely fought and killed for long years.

“I’ve always wondered what kind of world lies beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate.” Jiang Wang looked at this curtain wall, a rare anticipation in his eyes: “Soon, I will be able to witness it personally.”

The legend of the human race expelling the demon race had been heard for many years. And cultivating all the way to the present, he finally possessed a certain strength, enough to set foot on that kind of battlefield and trace the footsteps of the senior sages who had fought.

At this moment, in front of the Qi Country sub-gate of the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, only Song Yao and Jiang Wang’s group remained.

More security and surveillance had already been completed in a further location.

“The world beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate is incomparably vast. From ancient times until today, its boundaries have not been fully explored. Now, many of us call it the ‘Demon Realm,’ but originally, it wasn’t the world inhabited by the demon race.” A faint smile graced Song Yao’s face as he lightly tapped the ground with his boot: “The earliest dwelling place of the demon race was here. The place where our generations live.”

The end of the ancient era, and the beginning of the upper ancient era, was marked by the human race driving the demon race to the outside world. Jiang Wang, of course, knew this point. More detailed history was then buried in the depths of time. Coincidentally, before him, someone was “Delving into the Profound.”

Song Yao continued: “The so-called ‘Demon Realm’ is actually unsuitable for survival. In the beginning, it was just a chaotic mess, without any vitality. The ancient sages driving the demon race out of the present world was, of course, not to find them a dwelling place and allow them to recuperate and return, but to break the demon race’s backbone, shatter their spirit, and completely wipe out this race in all the heavens and myriad realms!”

“This is a chaotic world adjacent to the present world, the largest one. In the ancient era, its name was Heaven Prison. The demon race threw creatures who had committed grave crimes into Heaven Prison, allowing them to dissolve in chaos.”

“Creatures of the ancient era lost their courage upon hearing the name Heaven Prison.”

“In that last great war, the main force of the demon race was forcibly driven into this chaotic world. They should have perished in the chaos, and with this, wash away the sins they committed in the ancient era.”

“With absolute great power, the sages completely sealed Heaven Prison. They wanted to borrow the power of time to wipe out those hard-to-erase demon race strong ones. Chaos would dissolve all existence over a long period.”

“But during the period of Heaven Prison’s seal, the Ancient Demon Emperor sacrificed himself, blood-sacrificing his lineage. Using supreme divine ability, he refined his body, soul, intent, life, everything, refining out one hundred and eight Demon Life Treasure Pearls.”

These one hundred and eight Demon Life Treasure Pearls anchored the earth, wind, water, and fire, re-enacting heaven and earth, opening this chaotic world, gaining vitality and primal force, leaving the demon race a last breath.

Later, they again created the Heaven Demon Altar. Using one Heaven Demon Altar, they completely ignited the chaotic world, completed world evolution, and continued the survival rules of the demon race. They indeed created a miracle of life, breeding infinite possibilities in chaos.

When the Heaven Prison seal disappeared, that was still the early period of the upper ancient era. The demon race launched an extremely fierce counterattack and even attacked into the present world several times, but in the end, they were all driven back.

The human race filled the borders with their flesh and blood, absolutely unwilling to lose everything their ancestors had won back.

From then on, with this newborn world as their base, the demon race counterattacked the present world time and again. Countless strong ones fell, among them not lacking some who shone with eternal names, their flesh paving the gap between the two worlds. The fire of war burned for tens of thousands of years, continuing all the way until the mid-period of the upper ancient era, until the Ten Thousand Demons Gate was built.”

“The stories of the sages are grand and majestic. Later generations recall them and cannot help but admire.” Jiang Wang was quite emotional: “Although that segment of history is remote, listening now still makes my blood boil. What can cultivators of our generation do in this era?”

“Nine words.” Song Yao said: “Seek Altars, Pave with Demon Bones, Build Great Cities!”

“Simply put, it’s just finding the demon race’s Heaven Demon Altars, breaking them, extinguishing them, then paving the foundation with as many demon race bones as possible, and on this foundation, building great cities that belong to our human race!”

“Your battle in the Mirage Realm, destroying the Sea Nest and creating Floating Islands, is of this kind.”

“One day, when the human race’s flag is planted throughout the Demon Realm, the demon race can be formally declared extinct. That day is still very distant, but it is worth looking forward to.”

Song Yao stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the light curtain in front. The faint purple micro-light on it had already begun to flow; that was a sign that the Ten Thousand Demons Gate had already opened.

He continued: “Of course, specifically for each country. What we need to do is guard our territory well, capture more demon race, produce more Open Pulse Pills, and win more resources for the country.”

“Specifically for you, Martial An Marquis,” he looked over and said very seriously: “Please preserve yourself for the country!”

No matter how many more resources there were, they could not exchange back one absolute world talent.

Because true strong ones cannot be piled up with resources. But the world beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate is a place where no one can guarantee safety.

Jiang Wang cupped his hands to this court physician and said solemnly: “Jiang Wang receives your teaching.”

He then pressed his sword and turned, heading directly towards the already open Ten Thousand Demons Gate.

White Jade Flaw followed closely, and behind him was the two hundred-man guard detail.

A mere two hundred men, yet they resembled a host of a thousand armies and ten thousand cavalry.

Ahead lay the danger of death.

Brave warriors never turn back.

That purple light curtain wall obscured everything on the other side of the world. Inside the Ji Chuan Underground City, nothing could be seen, but when the long boots stepped over the light curtain, this body crossed the world gate, and the sight before his eyes was vastly different!

This was a ferocious world, the primal force abnormally violent. A cultivator’s original body’s natural absorption of heaven and earth primal qi, this naturally nurtured slow process, felt like drinking iron sand down the throat in this world.

Everything here was uncomfortable.

Jagged strange stones, filled with black ash.

A burning, scorching taste in the air…

It was best not to breathe.

One could say it was full of scars, or full of wounds.

In this unsettling world, amidst that uneven sensory experience, first-time visitors looked forward—a great city stood before them.

A great city occupied by the human race.

It was, of course, not as majestic as Linzi, just the size of an ordinary border city. It was very rough, like it was simply piled up with huge, rough-hewn stones. But it possessed a kind of unyielding toughness.

It was the kind of toughness where even if the flesh was battered and rotten, the bare bones remained.

From the words chiseled on the city gate plaque, one could recognize that this was one of the great cities controlled by Qi Country in the Demon Realm, named “Yan Prison.” The city gate was of the hanging lock style, slowly lowering with a rumbling sound. The Yan Prison guard army, who had received the news in advance, used the backs of their knives to strike their arm armor, welcoming the arrival of the Great Qi Martial An Marquis with this metallic sound.

Of course, he already possessed enough military merits, but he still needed to prove himself on this cruel battlefield. The country gave him honor, the human race gave him praise, and true strong ones always proved themselves again and again.

And on that high city wall above, stood a figure in white armor and snow-white robes, with an unparalleled demeanor.

His long hair flew in the air, burning like black flames. “Heard you wanted to come, I specially came to pick you up!”

His voice collided between heaven and earth. Beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, he added a wildness and ferocity that was unrestrained. He said, “Welcome to Heaven Prison! You can also call it the Demon Realm. Of course, we are more accustomed to calling it the Ten Thousand Demons Hunting Ground. This is the hunting ground of the strong and the grave of the weak!”

“Jiang Martial An!”

This person held a silver spear in his hand and flew directly upwards, shattering the ten thousand li of smoke and dust. “Follow me!”

His body was like silver lightning crossing the sky, a rumbling flash, already far away.

Ji Zhaonan’s welcoming method was truly unexpected, but Jiang Wang did not hesitate. He merely made a gesture to White Jade Flaw, then directly lifted his body and crossed the sky. He, Jiang, was not entirely unfamiliar with the world beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate.

The commander of the Nine Graduates, General Xiu Yuan, had already moved the Prisoner Electricity Army to station beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate, replacing Shi Mingli and his Winter Silence Army.

The human armor unparalleled, Ji Zhaonan, spent even more years battling beyond the Ten Thousand Demons Gate.

These were all very familiar figures. He wasn’t exactly close friends with Ji Zhaonan, but at least they were on the same expedition at Guanhe Terrace and had that little bit of camaraderie.

If he wanted to take him to see the scenery of the Demon Realm, then he would go see it.

Now that both had reached the Divine Realm, what did it matter if it was a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, a dangerous place? If Ji Zhaonan went, Jiang Wang would also go. The high sky of the Demon Realm was a dreary gray.

In the deep distance, in a place difficult to see to the extreme, there was a faint dark black edge. But it was impossible to grasp its specifics.

Flying in the high sky, one collided with the rules of this world. The faster the speed, the more intense the collision. There was a circle of extremely faint fiery lines around his body, constantly extinguishing and reigniting, as he rapidly deepened his understanding of this world.

His body shattered the smoke and dust, and the strong wind was like a knife to the face.

His clothes fluttered, the sound unusually dry, as if his Youyi Immortal Clothes would spontaneously combust in the next moment. The environment of this Demon Realm could be called harsh, but compared to the border wilderness and the Mirage Realm that Jiang Wang had been to, it was actually not that difficult to adapt. At least it didn’t require Life Soul Stones or Mirage Crystals.

Ji Zhaonan flew straight ahead, with no intention of stopping. At this terrifying speed without reserve, White Jade Flaw and the others couldn’t possibly keep up.

Therefore, Jiang Wang had only instructed White Jade Flaw at the beginning to lead the team into the city to rest, while he himself gave chase.

Fang Yuanyou’s abilities were not outstanding, just average talent. His two hundred personal guards also weren’t considered world elite troops. But with White Jade Flaw present, quickly adapting to the Demon Realm environment was absolutely not a problem.

“Where does Brother Ji want to take me?” Jiang Wang finally caught up somewhat and asked in a loud voice.

Ji Zhaonan didn’t turn back, only leaving his voice in the sky wind: “You’ve come very timely! The Winter Month is about to pass, but it hasn’t passed yet!”

“We have three days to play a hunting game!”

Three days?

A hunting game?

Jiang Wang completely didn’t understand what Ji Zhaonan wanted to do, and then, in the next moment, he felt a drastic change in heaven and earth!

It was like suddenly rushing into a cold, deep, ten-thousand-zhang glacier from a furnace filled with smoke and ash! The scorching sensation was completely frozen away, and between heaven and earth, there seemed to be an endless song of goose-feather-sized snowflakes.

Looking down from the high sky, it was a vast expanse of white.

From the high sky down to the frozen earth, where was anyone coming?

There was a sense of a substantial barrier, manifesting in front. Anyone who came here knew they could not pass further. At least, they couldn’t fly directly through in the high sky.

This was directly linked to the essence and rules of the world, fundamentally impossible to cross.

The only passage was below.

Looking down. Amidst the lifeless white expanse, there was a place with a unique scenery.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Intense wind sounds roared through the huge valley.

And Ji Zhaonan had already unfurled his snow cape, reversed his grip on his long spear, and plunged straight down into the valley—

“Great Qi’s Ji Zhaonan is here!”

Jiang Wang’s Dry Sun Red Pupils could already clearly see that in the narrow, long valley path, there were already limbs everywhere, and fresh blood flowing.

He saw the demon race—not the old, weak, powerless Qilin demon race he had once seen outside the pine forest in Song Wave City in Xu Country. But strong and powerful demon race warriors, also wearing armor and holding weapons!

These demon race warriors, every single one, grew very similar to humans, only possessing either horns on their foreheads, or wings, or long tails. These were necessary embodied unique features, declaring their special nature.

Among them, the weakest were at least equivalent to human cultivators of the Inner Mansion Realm. And every single demon race warrior possessed divine abilities!

A continuous stream of demon race warriors surged from that side of the narrow, long valley path, like a tide.

The main body of the entire huge valley could not be seen through from the high sky. The valley path that could be seen belonged to the human race’s side—in other words, the demon race’s front line was pushing over. Jiang Wang already understood why Ji Zhaonan was in such a hurry, without stopping for a moment.

Just at this moment, Ji Zhaonan descended from the sky, stirring up a sky full of snowflakes. Like a snow-white dragon, he suddenly plunged into the valley! Instantly swallowing countless demon race bodies. His white armor was dotted with red snow.

What a murderous spear!

Jiang Wang did not have time to observe further. The intelligence he had received was only from the hurried glances during the extremely fast approach.

Excellent hearing allowed him to capture a curse from inside the valley: “Son of a bitch, Ji Zhaonan! You said you’d run a little faster, giving you some time to find reinforcements—and you did find reinforcements, didn’t you?!”

“Hahaha haha.” Ji Zhaonan laughed arrogantly: “Already here!” “Here indeed!”

Indeed, that motherfucker didn’t specially welcome him.

No good people under the Army God!

Such a thought flashed through Jiang Wang’s mind, but the long sword in his hand was already unsheathed. His body fell like a comet into the long valley, boundless sword qi forming a comet’s tail, whistling over the sky filled with flying snow—

“Great Qi’s Martial An Marquis is here—”