Liangzhou, one month ago.
With reinforcements arriving from all directions, the demon forces that had breached the front lines and swiftly occupied numerous cities were now facing a swift and decisive counterattack.
Across Liangzhou, military flags fluttered in the wind. To prevent further harm to the citizens in the occupied cities, Li Tiangang and Li Xuanli devised a strategy to dispatch light cavalry squads from the main army. These squads would carry the Haotian battle standard to various cities, serving as a vanguard to intimidate and gather information.
If the situation was unfavorable, they would await the main force. But if the mere presence of the battle standard was enough to awe the demons within the city, they could seize the opportunity to rescue the civilians inside.
After all, every extra day of delay meant that tens of thousands more civilians would become fodder for the demons.
Thus, speed was of the essence in reclaiming territories and saving lives.
As the mighty counterattack horn blared, the smaller and middling demon factions that had attempted to take advantage of the chaos and join the offensive were now thrown into disarray. They had never anticipated such a swift and decisive rout at the front lines.
Previously, they had received numerous favorable reports from the Tianji Temple, leading them to believe that the conquest of Liangzhou was a sure thing. But now, the tide had turned.
For a moment, the ancient fear that this venerable dynasty had imprinted on their bloodlines resurfaced.
Many factions with elderly demons among them chose to retreat, taking advantage of the chaos in Liangzhou to cover their escape. If they were to be hunted and identified, survival beyond the borders would be difficult, forcing them to remain in hiding.
"Why? Why have we suffered such a swift defeat?"
"Weren't we told that the Grand Elder of Dragon Gate would lead us to conquer Liangzhou?"
Several powerful demons roared in anger, directing their fury at the avian demon from the Tianji Temple.
The avian demon from the Tianji Temple felt a bitter taste in its mouth. As demons themselves, they naturally leaned towards the three major factions. Moreover, they had not disclosed that the Overlord of the Grand Void had also arrived at the battlefield.
This was a closely guarded secret of the war, not to be revealed to prevent the demons who knew of it from being captured and interrogated by the human forces.
"According to intelligence from the front lines, Dragon Gate has been defeated. If you wish to know the specific reason, you will need to pay with blood jade," the avian demon responded, using the same tactic with each inquiring demon faction.
Regardless of the outcome of the war, the Tianji Temple would profit handsomely from the sale of this information.
This was the reason why the Tianji Temple, despite their apparent lack of combat prowess, could still be considered one of the top demon factions, standing alongside the likes of Dragon Gate.
Some demons chose to flee without bothering to investigate further, knowing that such information would eventually come to light for free after some time.
However, some wealthier and more impetuous demons, though enraged, opted to purchase the information immediately. Thus, they soon learned the detailed reason for the defeat from the avian demon.
The Overlord of the Grand Void had personally commanded the battle, but a human junior general had appeared out of thin air, dominating the battlefield. He had slain seven demon kings and escaped pursuit by the Overlord and the Grand Elder, fleeing beyond the borders of Liangzhou.
This news spread like wildfire among the demons. Those who had dwelled outside Tianmen Pass for many years now migrated elsewhere. Though surprised by the news, they were not entirely caught off guard, as they had already heard whispers of the renowned junior general who sat astride Tianmen Pass.
However, the demons outside Liangzhou were stunned by the revelation. Another extraordinary genius had emerged among the humans!
Some elderly demons sighed, recalling the events of over a decade ago in Cangzhou.
It was the same junior general who, with only a few thousand cavalry, had single-handedly pacified and guarded a province.
Now, fifteen years later, another junior general had appeared, as if destined by the cycle of fate. This seemed to suggest that the fortune of the humans remained undiminished, and the three-bladed sword still hung over the heads of the demons.
At the mere mention of the name Haotian, the demons fled in disarray.
This campaign to reclaim Liangzhou had not exhausted much of their military might, and with the reinforcements from the Great Yu Imperial Clan, they had surrounded Liangzhou, annihilating countless fleeing demons.
The original reinforcement force of 500,000 imperial troops was now tasked with mopping up the remaining resistance. As a result, the fleeing demons faced a formidable army, suffering heavy casualties. A small number of demons managed to escape, but their races were decimated, their factions destroyed, leaving only scattered survivors with memories filled with fear and pain.
"Your Highness, a report!"
A vanguard soldier, bearing the flag of the Yu Imperial Clan—a flying black character "Yu" on a dark yellow background—returned from his reconnaissance mission and dismounted swiftly.
"The demons in the city thirty miles ahead have abandoned their fortress and fled. Our troops are now taking over, rallying the remaining defenders and citizens to treat the wounded."
The vanguard soldier bowed his head respectfully as he delivered his report.
Before him stood a youth clad in golden divine armor, his cape fluttering in the wind, standing atop a ten-zhang-long flood dragon covered in crimson scales.
The title "Your Highness" indicated his extraordinary status.
The character "Yan" emblazoned on his chest plate revealed his identity—a well-known figure among the imperial court and noble families, one of the most renowned among the dozens of imperial princes: the Thirteenth Prince, Jiang Yan.
Despite his young age, he had already established a formidable reputation for his valiant deeds. Known for his exceptional bravery, he would have been granted a marquess title at the very least if not for his imperial lineage.
At this moment, Jiang Yan's brows furrowed slightly as he listened to the vanguard soldier's report. "I heard that a powerful demon was stationed there. How could they repel the enemy without losing a single soldier?"
"It is said that not a single soldier was harmed," the vanguard soldier replied, keeping his head lowered respectfully as he elaborated on the details.
Upon hearing the full report, Jiang Yan, with his sharp gaze and sword-like eyebrows, revealed a hint of surprise, which quickly turned into cold determination.
"Hmph, the Haotian battle standard? It's ridiculous that a mere flag can intimidate a powerful demon!"
"How can the battle standard of our Great Yu Imperial Clan's former emperor be any less intimidating than the Haotian standard? These demons have grown too bold in recent years due to the Emperor's benevolence!"
"Pass on my order!"
His face turned icy as he continued, "Kill every demon along the way, leaving none alive. Capture the powerful demon alive. After Liangzhou is pacified, I will erect a grand sacrificial altar and refine its demon essence to strike fear into the hearts of all demons across the land!"
"Let these demons know that trespassing on the territory of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty will lead to dire consequences!"
With the arrival of the imperial army, reinforcements from other grand provinces also made their way to Liangzhou to aid in the battle.
These forces included scions of noble families, members of various sects, and local armies from different provinces, all rallying to the aid of Liangzhou.
However, each grand province spanned a vast territory, ranging from seventy thousand to over a hundred thousand li in size. Unless the military employed certain secret methods to expedite their march, it would take some time for the reinforcements to arrive.
By the time the various forces reached Liangzhou, the battlefield had already been cleared, and the campaign, from the initial demon assault to the final pacification, had lasted less than ten days.
"Old Seventh, we just interrogated the bird yaomo from Tianji Temple. Hao'er has lured the three Yaowangs towards the Yue River, where the Fourth Uncle is stationed."
In the Liangzhou Military Headquarters, a glimmer of hope flashed in Li Xuanli's eyes as he said, "Perhaps with the Fourth Uncle's help, Hao'er might make it out alive. The Fourth Uncle is quite experienced with the situation at the Yue River."
Li Tiangang heaved a sigh of relief and nodded. "With the Fourth Uncle there, there's hope for them to escape via the Yue River. Is that Yaowang guarding the outside of the Yue River now?"
"Yes."
"In that case, this is a rare opportunity for us to catch them all in one fell swoop!"
Li Tiangang's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Li Xuanli nodded. "But that Candlelight God is at the Half-Step Taiping Dao Realm. If we want to hunt him down, we'll need to invite the Second Uncle. Even then, it might not be enough. We'll also need the help of the other Divine Generals from the Divine Needle of Calm Seas. If we could get that old lady from the Xia family to join us..."
He paused, then shook his head. That old lady had been entrenched in the Xia family for many years and had never left her post lightly. It was unlikely she would take action for this matter.
"What about inviting the Buddha Lord?" Li Xuanli suggested.
Li Tiangang narrowed his eyes. "The Buddha Lord might not take action himself. He might just send a Bodhisattva to deal with it superficially. After what happened in Liangzhou, you should be able to see their true colors."
Li Xuanli thought of Lin Wuji and certain rumors and nodded slightly.
"But the real person from the Qian Dao Palace won't leave the palace easily. This is a rare opportunity. We can't just let him get away, can we?"
"Let's ask the royalty to intervene. I heard that Prince Jiang Yan and Prince Jiang Chong have arrived. We can discuss it with them. If they can rally support from other powerful beings like the Sword Saint, along with the commander of the imperial army, that Candlelight God will surely die!"
A cold light flashed in Li Tiangang's eyes.
"Alright."
Li Xuanli nodded.
With the end of the unrest in Liangzhou and the restoration of peace, Prince Jiang Yan joined forces with the Liangzhou Army and the Divine Generals to build a grand sacrificial altar in Liangzhou, using nine immortal Fiends at the Three Immortal Realms to offer sacrifices to the heavens.
This was done under the pretext of commemorating the deceased people of Liangzhou, but it was actually meant to intimidate the Yaomo.
This news quickly spread, causing even more fear among the Yaomo outside the borders.
After the sacrificial ceremony, messages were sent out in all directions.
...
At the Xia family residence, in a simple courtyard, an old woman was feeding poultry, scattering grains for the chickens to peck at.
"Cheep cheep."
The old woman scooped a handful of rice and threw it in front of several little yellow chicks, letting them peck at the grains.
The chicks pecked gently and ate with relish.
Suddenly, the small courtyard gate was pushed open, and a middle-aged woman dressed in patched clothing entered. She held a letter in her hand.
She had a plain appearance, her hair pinned up with a gray wooden hairpin. But beneath the coarse sleeves, her skin was as white and delicate as mutton-fat jade.
The old woman sat in a rocking chair, gently swaying back and forth as she watched the chicks pecking at the grains with a look of contentment.
When the middle-aged woman approached, the old woman raised her head and her eyes naturally fell on the letter in the woman's hand. A faint smile played on her lips.
"Madam, it's a letter from the Li family."
The middle-aged woman spoke softly and respectfully.
The old woman took the letter, slowly reading through it before gently closing it. She murmured, "With the decline of the country's fortune, these old fellows are getting restless."
"Madam, shall we go?"
The middle-aged woman asked cautiously, "This is indeed a rare opportunity. If the Candlelight God has a domain, he probably won't perish in the Yue River. When he comes out, it will be the perfect time to hunt him down."
The old woman placed the letter on the back of her rocking chair and scooped another handful of rice, throwing it to the little yellow chicks at her feet. "The Tianji Temple has probably already passed on this information to other Yaomo forces. Although the Yaomo fight among themselves, they also understand the concept of 'when one falls, all are in danger'."
"The Ancient Demon Temple and the Tai Xu Realm are unlikely to send reinforcements, but the Gluttonous Valley, Dragon Gate, and the Saint Palace will probably send people."
"Then it's both an opportunity and a trap."
"This battle might just be bait set by the Yaomo."
As she spoke, she gently kicked one of the larger chicks with her foot and chuckled. "Don't be greedy and leave some for the others."
The largest chick, feeling wronged, shuffled to the side, closer to the middle-aged woman's feet.
The middle-aged woman shifted her feet slightly before saying, "Madam, do you mean that we should wait and see for now?"
"Let's wait."
The old woman spoke softly.
...
At the Wang family residence, in a palace-like hall, three figures gathered.
"We just received another letter from the Li family. The unrest in Liangzhou has been resolved."
One of the figures, a man with a sturdy build and a stern face, spoke in a low voice, "Previously, when Li Tiangang sent out the Eight Directional Order for aid, our Wang family was too far away. By the time we could have sent reinforcements, it would have been over. So, we didn't respond. This time, if we don't show some form of support, we might be criticized."
"Hmph, so what if they gossip? These Yaomo affairs have nothing to do with us. We've already provided our troops to them, isn't that enough?" Another figure, a middle-aged man with a gaunt appearance, spoke coldly.
"Those are things of the past, let's not bring them up again."
The oldest of the three, a frail-looking elder sitting at the head of the group, spoke softly, "Grudges and enmities are like passing clouds, impossible to pursue clearly."
"Currently, the situation in the Great Yu Divine Dynasty is that the Yaomo are surrounding us, which is a minor issue. The problem of the Yue River is becoming more and more serious."
"Dongfang is currently striving to reach the 10,000 merit points. We don't know what special changes will occur once he reaches that milestone."
As he spoke, a sigh escaped his lips, and his brows furrowed with worry, but there was also a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
"There should be some changes. Our challenges and research on the Yue River over the years have shown that the Merit List is not just an empty title."
The stern-faced man on the right said, "Our 98th generation ancestor reached over 10,000 merit points, and it was recorded that he gained an additional chance to reverse his fate. The prosperous qi he gained led to our Wang family producing talented individuals generation after generation."