In this time of peak disaster and encroaching darkness, the True Monarch on duty at Sui Ming City, Qin Changsheng of the Qin realm, descended without warning!

With a swift motion, he seized his blade, holding it level before the Heavenly Demon Lion, Shi Anxuan. Beneath the brim of his hat, his eyes, though seemingly ordinary, held a profound vitality, an inner ecosystem of their own. These eyes, level with his blade, met the gaze of the trapped and cornered beast, locking with Shi Anxuan’s directly.

To be met by such tranquil eyes unexpectedly stirred a chill within Shi Anxuan’s heart. Of course, it wasn’t fear; a Heavenly Demon of his caliber had witnessed countless spectacles and possessed an absolute peak courage in the face of life and death. Yet, he was momentarily struck by Qin Changsheng’s speed of arrival. For years, regardless of the brutal, often fatal conflicts between the myriad gates of the Demon Realm and the human realms, within this Heavenly Prison World, these humans had consistently stood united, sharp as a blade. The recent battle in the Present World River Valley had just concluded, a conflict between Qin and Chu so fierce that even the Demon Realm was aware of its intensity. Yet, today, while a Chu True Monarch, Zuo Xiao, bled in battle, a Qin True Monarch, Qin Changsheng, offered aid without a moment’s delay.

Today was like yesterday, and like every day before.

He had originally believed that by stooping to bully the weak, he might gain some advantage. Not gaining an advantage was, in itself, not a major concern. The true issue now was that with his own intervention, Shi Anxuan’s, and Qin Changsheng’s entry into the fray, this battlefield had gathered four Heavenly Demons and three True Monarchs!

What did this signify?

This was already verging on a large-scale war! What was initially intended as a small-scale elite force’s assault on an Innate realm pass, a victory leading merely to the establishment of an ordinary city, now saw the intensity of the conflict unavoidably escalating.

Was this what he, Shi Anxuan, desired? What the Demon Race desired? If the situation continued to unfold in this manner, could the ultimate outcome be borne by the Demon Race? Indeed, was this the appropriate time to infinitely expand the war’s scale, to ignite a blood war between the two realms?

The answer was clearly negative! These thoughts compelled Shi Anxuan to maintain restraint, but he could by no means show weakness. In such a racial confrontation, yielding even a single point could result in the loss of far more than just a city. He fixed his majestic gaze upon Qin Changsheng, his purple pupils filled with vigilance.

But before he could utter a word, Qin Changsheng had already spoken. His first sentence, however, was not directed at Shi Anxuan.

In this moment, with all eyes upon him, Qin Changsheng, blade held level against Shi Anxuan, simply said: “Zi Yu, return to Qin or not?”

Those who had witnessed the Yellow River Meeting in Dao Li’s 39th year, or had paid attention to that grand event, would of course know that among the four powerhouses of the Inner Mansion field, the prodigy of the Mu realm, Zhao Ru Cheng, whose original name was Ying Zi Yu, was a descendant of the former dethroned Qin Emperor, Qin Huai. The current Qin Emperor, on the Viewing River Platform, in the presence of emperors from several hegemonic realms and the Long River Dragon Lord, had explicitly offered him the opportunity to return to Qin as a prince and even contend for the throne, an offer Zhao Ru Cheng had refused.

And today.

Qin Changsheng’s actions on this day could be said to have saved Zhao Ru Cheng’s life. Of course, as the True Monarch on duty in Sui Ming City, his intervention to intercept the Heavenly Demon Shi Anxuan was also a form of duty. Had he not come, other True Monarchs would have. His arrival on the battlefield, whether a minute sooner or later, could not be definitively accused of deliberation, nor could he be blamed for anything. For example, he had watched Helian Xiao Hu being slapped away by Shi Anxuan, only intervening with a remote blade energy to force Shi Anxuan’s restraint, granting Helian Xiao Hu a chance to survive. This fell within the realm of reasonable action.

His intent was simply to convey one thing to Zhao Ru Cheng—the Mu realm could not protect you, Ying Zi Yu.

The Qin realm could!

Today, I have personally saved you. Return or not?

The life and death that had blanketed the entire battlefield surged and then receded. At this moment, many warriors were still struggling to recover from the sudden ascent and descent of fear. Thus, the killing among ordinary warriors paused for a time.

Bai Yu Xia, being one of the few who could maintain self-possession, promptly ordered his subordinates to reorganize after Shi Anxuan’s Heaven Devouring divine ability concluded. He first glanced towards the colorful cloud carriage, discovering that True Person Ye had already appeared near it. To be able to traverse the end of days’ darkness and the stillness of the world’s end, returning to his daughter’s side at the first available moment, True Person Ye was truly extraordinary. It was no wonder that previously in Wu An City, Grand Minister Wen Ren’s attitude had been so eager, filled with flattery. Near the colorful cloud carriage, Fang Yuan You and the hundred Wu An guards he led, though scattered and disheveled, were largely unharmed.

Bai Yu Xia then breathed a sigh of relief and looked back towards the Marquis’s sworn brother. He wondered how this individual would respond to the Qin realm True Monarch’s question. As the one who had single-handedly saved the battlefield with his blade, Qin Changsheng’s every move was naturally the focus of the crowd. At this moment, all eyes were fixed on Zhao Ru Cheng, who wore a bronze ghost mask. The weight of these gazes could have been a thousand jun. Having just narrowly escaped death also inevitably left his heart shaken.

Yet, Zhao Ru Cheng’s voice held no weakness: “The Qin realm possesses fine mountains and rivers, but it is not my home. Thus, there is no ‘return’ to speak of! If there is an opportunity, I may visit.”

He had originally intended to say, if you can help me find my third brother, there would be no harm in returning to Qin with you. But first, his third brother might no longer be there, and second, once those words were spoken, the likelihood of finding his third brother would diminish even further. Even Qin Changsheng did not possess the ability to traverse the Demon Realm. Without the combined might of the human race, such a journey was impossible. The reason why he, like the young pavilion master of Ling Xiao Pavilion and the Chan master of Xi Yue An, lingered on the periphery of the battlefield, hesitant to show signs of searching, was precisely due to this consideration.

Hence, at this moment, he could only revert to himself and seriously answer Qin Changsheng’s question. Qin Changsheng seemed to have somewhat anticipated Zhao Ru Cheng’s answer. Without turning back, his voice remained calm, merely saying faintly: “Then where is your home?”

Zhao Ru Cheng had originally intended to say “the four seas are my home.” But beside him, Helian Yun Yun had already spoken: “Ru Cheng’s home is, of course, beside the Heaven’s Mirror, in the supreme royal court, at the main residence of the East Mansion, and in the Snow Dome Palace! If Qin Zhen Jun has leisure, you may come for a visit. I will personally offer you tea!”

In this Wu Nan battlefield within the Heavenly Prison World, Qin Changsheng, as the True Monarch on duty in Sui Ming City, had a duty to aid the human race and a duty to battle the demon race. Had he been able to save her and not done so, it would have created a great enmity with the Mu realm. So, although Qin Changsheng had also saved her life, earning her gratitude, the affection was not particularly deep, and there was no need to foolishly consider seizing her beloved. Furthermore, Helian Xiao Hu’s current situation was unclear; it was not necessarily due to Qin Changsheng’s delay. If Helian Xiao Hu died, then between them, there would be no favor, but rather a grievance.

Although Qin Changsheng held the position of True Monarch, standing at the peak of the human race, she, Helian Yun Yun, as the daughter of Helian Mountain Sea, was also exceptionally honorable and entirely qualified to speak. Declaring the Snow Dome Palace as his home was a gesture of support for Zhao Ru Cheng. A good man might consider the four seas his home, but with her, Helian Yun Yun, here, why would he wander the world? Offering tea was her, the Great Mu imperial princess’s, attitude towards the Qin realm. She could be a gracious host, or she could send guests away. It all depended on how the Qin realm chose.

“Certainly, if time allows.” Qin Changsheng seemed not overly enthusiastic about bringing Zhao Ru Cheng back to the Qin realm, nor did he engage in any calculations with Helian Yun Yun. He merely responded faintly with a single sentence, then moved on from the topic.

Still entangled with Shi Anxuan’s energy, he raised his eyes again to the high heavens and loudly proclaimed: “Left Duke! Grand Marshal Jiang! This battle erupted so suddenly, I cannot grasp its true beginning. The other two fellows in Sui Ming City entrusted me to ask a question: what exactly is your intention?”

The war unfolding in South Heaven City, from its inception to its climax, happened almost in an instant. Left Xiao arrived, Left Xiao charged, and thus the war began. As resources were continuously invested, both the human and demon races found themselves in a precarious situation, unable to dismount the tiger. Left Xiao, Jiang Meng Xiong, Yuan Xian Ting, Qi Guan Ying, Zhu Yi—these powerhouses standing at the peak of the super-extraordinary realm—could any of them so easily perish here? Each was a pillar of their entire race, capable of dying, but not in such a senseless, unprepared manner.

To avoid immense losses, both sides could only continuously raise the stakes, continuously increase troop numbers, and continuously send strong individuals as reinforcements. Fighting in this manner, it was difficult to say what the final situation would become. Perhaps a true war between the two realms might erupt from here. And this was absolutely not what those in Sui Ming City desired at this time. The entire upper echelon of the human race had not yet reached a consensus on this matter; how could the war’s intensity be infinitely elevated? Without a thousand years of preparation, how could a full-scale war with the demon race be rashly ignited?

The demon race was the human race’s greatest enemy, but not its only enemy. Even the demon race was not their sole adversary; in their mutual enmity, they also possessed continuous super-extraordinary resources. The strategy against the demon race necessarily involved the grand strategy of the entire human race; how could it be handled rashly?

Qin Changsheng’s public questioning at this moment was also an indication of his attitude to the demon side, explaining that the human race currently had no plan for a comprehensive war. The sudden eruption of high-intensity conflict this time was entirely the individual actions of Left Xiao and Jiang Meng Xiong. He adopted this attitude to avoid misjudgment by the demon race, hoping that the demon race could also maintain a certain degree of restraint.

“Intention?” Jiang Meng Xiong had clearly not fully considered this question, but quickly responded: “Naturally, it is to make South Heaven City the burial ground of my country’s Marquis!” Of course, according to his original intent, the goal of this subjugation of demons was to find Jiang Wang alive and, incidentally, kill Zhu Yi. But such words could not be spoken openly. The demon race was currently weak in momentum, but not without backbone. As he spoke, his fist still smashed thunderously, pressing down on Zhu Yi, forcing Yuan Xian Ting to constantly retreat in defense, provoking this monkey to yell in frustration. On the other side, Left Xiao deliberately attacked the crippled leg, pressing down on the heavily injured Zhu Yi, leaving Qi Guan Ying completely unable to breathe and unable to respond to Tai Changsheng’s question. In response to Qin Changsheng’s question, he merely let out a cold roar: “If you ask the old man’s intention, it is simply to pacify and exterminate the demon race!”

The overall strength of the human race had long surpassed that of the demon race; this had been proven through countless bloody battles over the years. Even within this world opened by the demon race, the human race had already established a firm foothold in the Five Evils Basin, which affected the grand situation of the two races. Thus, even an irritable Heavenly Demon like Yuan Xian Ting acknowledged the possibility of negotiation. He simply had a bad temper, not a lack of intelligence.

But upon hearing Left Xiao’s tone, his fur immediately bristled: “Old fellow! If you have the guts, release Zhu Yi, and we’ll go one-on-one! I’ll see how you exterminate demons!”

Left Xiao’s resplendent robes fluttered, his palm dividing heaven and earth, showing no signs of retreat. He merely said: “Good, wait until the old man kills this female spider, then I’ll come and drink your monkey brain!”

Bai Yu Xia heard this and shrank his neck. As someone from the Yue realm, he felt the full weight of the prestige of Great Chu’s Hui State Duke’s Manor. Look at the words this Left Duke spoke—how terrifying! Seeing that Yuan Xian Ting and Left Xiao could not agree on a single sentence, the war situation immediately intensified again.

Shi Anxuan cursed inwardly, but on his face, he merely let out two cold laughs: “If the human race all maintains this attitude, then there is no need for further talks. It’s nothing more than restarting the two realms’ blood war! You all flip through history, amidst how many piled corpses! When has my demon race ever cowered?!”

“Old lion, you don’t need such a big mouth!” Qin Changsheng retorted angrily: “You, a Heavenly Demon, have bullied the weak and invaded the battlefield. I haven’t even begun to settle this score with you. Could it be that from now on, neither side needs to send armies, but only absolute peak strong individuals will act and mutually kill the people of the opposite race? The Myriad Demons Gate has stood for several great eras; have you all been able to kill your way through?!”

Yuan Xian Ting over there yelled: “Damn your human race for being so shameless! Jiang surname kid smashed South Heaven City a few days ago; why didn’t you say anything about bullying the weak? Twelve years ago, he also crossed the border and massacred; why didn’t you say anything about bullying the weak?!”

Jiang Meng Xiong also retorted angrily: “Dead monkey, you explain to me how my disciple Rao Bing Zhang disappeared! Could it not be that you demon race are shameless, bullying the weak?!”

“Hold on! Both of you, hold on! Old matters need not be mentioned again; new and old grievances will be repaid in due course!”

Qin Changsheng saw that this argument was going nowhere and had to step in as a mediator. If these two continued to argue, they could easily drag it from near antiquity to far antiquity. With so many years of accounts, where could they possibly be fully settled?

Shi Anxuan also said: “My going to the battlefield today and Jiang Meng Xiong’s smashing of South Heaven City a few days ago cancel each other out!”

Yuan Xian Ting and Jiang Meng Xiong both fell silent, but their hands became even more ruthless, the fight erupting in a sea of sparks, a chaotic surge. The entire battlefield watched as the distant sky, where the fighting raged, flickered between sudden brilliance and sudden darkness. The aftermath of the battle ground back and forth in the sky, thunder roared continuously, and rifts constantly appeared, creating a dangerous illusion of the sky about to collapse.

Qin Changsheng looked at Left Xiao and very respectfully said: “Left Duke, please calm down. I know Jiang Wu An and you share a good relationship, and during his time in the Chu realm, he ate and lived in the Left Manor. But a clay pot is bound to break by the well’s edge, and a general is bound to die on the battlefield! Things have been this way for a thousand ages. There is truly no reason for peace between the human and demon races. The blood war in this realm will not cease for a single day. But a full-scale war, how can it be ignited out of anger? Duke, please consider!”

Left Xiao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly unleashed several fierce attacks, still unable to truly kill Zhu Yi. He then let out a long sigh and withdrew from the fighting group. If he were in his peak, how could he be like this? Jiang Wang was a good child. But Qin Changsheng was right; a clay pot was bound to break by the well’s edge, and a general was bound to die on the battlefield! His son, his eldest grandson, had all been like this. How could he not understand this principle? He had seen through the winds and rains! His old heart was no longer capable of much pain. It was only a pity that Guang Shu had only just begun to be happy for a few days, gaining a heartfelt brother, only to again become cold and depressed, withdrawing into himself. It was only a pity that the flame flowers burning the city could never be seen again?

He glanced down at the large city beneath his feet, and said in annoyance: “This city sitting here, the old man finds it an eyesore!”

“That’s easy enough!” Yuan Xian Ting, discontented with the aggressive attitude of these human races, especially Left Xiao’s earlier restrained but urgent attack, leaped up and angrily roared: “Beat you old fellow blind, then you won’t find it an eyesore!”

Qi Guan Ying quickly reached out to stop him. You, Yuan Xian Ting, are alone without family; regardless of a blood war or not, you have no ape children or ape grandchildren. I, Qi Guan Ying, however, have family, a home, and subordinates. Too many die on the battlefield, and it is difficult for me not to feel heartache. At this point, he shook his battle armor: “This is a small matter. Although Frost Wind Valley was broken through by Jiang Meng Xiong, rashly opening this battlefield was not our demon race’s doing. However, things are becoming increasingly intense, which was not the original intention of either of our races.”

Qi Guan Ying pondered this for a moment and said: “Each side retreats thirty li from the city, how about that?”

Left Xiao’s eyes, which had originally faded in their fierce aura, suddenly lit up with sharp light once more. He spoke word by word: “I view Jiang Wang as a dry grandson, and my grandson views him as a blood brother! He was lost in this war, for reasons of both the human race and your demon race! We can retreat thirty, but you must retreat thirty-one!”

Qi Guan Ying looked deeply at this old man, sensing that kind of determination, and finally said: “Agreed.”

The “one” that Left Xiao desired was to commemorate Jiang Wang’s name. And the demon race’s true retreat of this “one” was to protect the Heavenly Demon Zhu Yi!