Chapter 256 - 180: Decisive Battle

Chapter 256: Chapter 180: Decisive Battle

Controlling their respective avatars, Lu Changfeng and Qiankun Daoist shot out of the long passage within Corpse Bone Mountain and flew toward their main bodies.

Meanwhile, back with their main bodies, the expressions on Lu Changfeng and Qiankun Daoist were grim.

Who could have guessed that this seemingly brainless—and in reality, truly brainless—Demon Miasma Body would suddenly utter such words just as the two of them were about to leave.

Clearly, the Demon Miasma Body had guessed why Lu Changfeng and Qiankun Daoist had come.

"It’s like we came here, and yet we didn’t."

"The problem seems to be solved, yet it’s not solved at all."

"We’re back to square one," Qiankun Daoist sighed.

Lu Changfeng shook his head slightly. "No. At least we’ve figured out the real situation."

"We have someone we can negotiate with."

"And for the short term, this has bought us plenty of time."

"But we can’t get complacent. The Demon Miasma Body is on the altar beneath Corpse Bone Mountain. It doesn’t dare compete with the main Demon Miasma to gather and absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy, so its Realm is dropping rapidly."

"Once its Realm drops to a certain point, it will definitely go berserk."

"We’ll just have to string it along for now," Lu Changfeng said grimly.

Qiankun Daoist nodded slowly.

The two were still in perfect sync.

Neither Lu Changfeng nor Qiankun Daoist had the slightest intention of honoring their verbal agreement with the Demon Miasma Body.

’If they truly undid the Seal on the Demon Miasma Body and allowed it to regrow its head, who in the entire Profound Realm would be able to stop it?’

Xu Fan, standing to the side, was completely lost. He couldn’t tell whether the problem at Corpse Bone Mountain had actually been solved.

However, when he carefully checked himself, the mark the headless monster had left inside him was indeed gone. The constant feeling that his life could be forfeit at any moment, which had been weighing on his mind, vanished, and he felt a great sense of relief.

’I really did the right thing by coming here.’

The White Tiger clone and Qiankun Daoist’s Jade Clone returned to their masters’ sides.

Qiankun Daoist extended a hand, and the Jade Clone reverted to a jade statue that landed in his palm.

Lu Changfeng released his mental hold on the White Tiger, returning control of the body to the White Tiger Guardian.

While Lu Changfeng was in control, the White Tiger’s own consciousness could only observe like a third-party spectator, so it knew exactly what had just transpired.

"We need to post someone here to keep a long-term watch on Corpse Bone Mountain."

"It looks like I’ll have to conquer the Capital Region," Lu Changfeng said slowly.

Lu Changfeng looked at Qiankun Daoist. "You’ll have to lend me a hand, won’t you? Mass casualties among the ordinary population would also affect the regeneration of Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy in the Profound Realm."

Qiankun Daoist held up a hand, showing five fingers.

Lu Changfeng shook his head and held up one finger.

"Come on, Saint Master, don’t be ridiculous. At least give me two Primordial Stones. We still have to work together on the Inner Realm and other things later. You could be a little more generous!" Qiankun Daoist protested.

"Fine. Two Primordial Stones it is. Help me conquer the Capital Region," Lu Changfeng agreed with a nod.

Items like Primordial Stones had likely been scoured clean from the Profound Realm by the Martial Artists of Ancient Times. Barely any could be found these days.

For Lu Changfeng, every stone he used was one he couldn’t replace, so he had to be frugal.

To Qiankun Daoist, Primordial Stones were even more valuable. With them, he could use Martial Arts Arrays to tap into higher levels of power.

For him, the only Array Master left in the Profound Realm, Primordial Stones held the greatest value.

Qiankun Daoist nodded, satisfied.

In his hands, two Primordial Stones were enough to create an Array Plate capable of obliterating even the strongest experts.

Next, Lu Changfeng had the White Tiger remain near Corpse Bone Mountain to stand guard. This was to prevent any members of the Human Race or other creatures from wandering in and giving the Demon Miasma Body a chance to break its Seal.

The possibility was slim, but it wasn’t zero.

They had to eliminate any and all possibilities of the Demon Miasma Body breaking its Seal.

Lu Changfeng wouldn’t be at ease with anyone else on guard duty. The White Tiger was powerful enough, and as a Chaos Consciousness created by Lu Changfeng himself, its loyalty was absolute. Furthermore, it could communicate with him telepathically across any distance, making it the perfect choice.

Afterward, the three of them—Lu Changfeng, Qiankun Daoist, and Xu Fan—sped off toward Yunyang Prefecture.

Along the way, Lu Changfeng took out a communication talisman and opened the Saint Demon Sect’s chat group.

Saint Master: All members of the Saint Demon Sect, prepare yourselves. We will immediately declare war on the Capital Region and utterly destroy the Hongg Family’s Sunset Dynasty.

After a moment of silence, the chat group erupted.

Grand Steward Lin Erfeng: As the Saint Master commands! The Saint Demon Sect’s army is prepared.

Gluttony Demon Sect: Excellent! We can finally feast again! Your Majesty, Saint Master, when do we attack?

Dark Buddha Demon Sect: Amitabha Buddha. My cultivation has improved lately, and I was just looking for someone to test my skills against.

Heavenly Corpse Demon Sect: Understood!

Blood Saber Demon Sect: Should I hurry over from the Western Capital?! My saber is thirsting for battle!

Saint Master: No need. You are to remain and guard the Western Capital Prefecture.

Blood Saber Demon Sect: (╯▽╰) Fine.

Moon Concealing Demon Sect, Sword Killing Demon Sect, Bone-Eroding Demon Sect...

Demon General Fanyun, Demon General Bai Touweng, Demon General Lin Xiong, Demon General Hua Zhuri, Demon General Hua Yulong...

With the exception of the two Saintesses, every Demon Sect and Demon General in the chat group radiated a fervent desire for war.

The consensus throughout the Saint Demon Sect was: ’Our Saint Master is so powerful! He should have conquered the world and challenged the Daliang Alien Race long ago!’

「Qin City, Yunyang Prefecture. Lu Mansion.」

A flustered Chunzhu found Hua Yiran.

Hua Yiran was watering her flowers.

Ever since the Hua Clan Members had moved out of Qin City and retreated into the mountain forests to become a secluded Cultivation Family, Hua Yiran’s days had become much more peaceful.

"What’s wrong, Sister Chunzhu?" Hua Yiran asked, seeing Chunzhu’s frantic expression.

"Our husband is going to war with the Imperial Court!" Chunzhu exclaimed, opening the communication talisman to show Hua Yiran the chat log.

After reading it, Hua Yiran took a few deep breaths. "Don’t worry, Sister Chunzhu. Our husband would only decide to fight the Imperial Court if he were absolutely certain of victory."

"All we need to do is make sure we don’t cause him any trouble."

Chunzhu nodded. "You’re right. I was being too hasty."

"Should we have the Floral Fiend and the Fire Qilin return to his side?" Chunzhu asked, thinking of the two powerful members of the Demon Race currently staying at the Lu Mansion.

Hua Yiran shook her head. "He has his reasons for leaving them with us. If he needed them, he would have taken them. We don’t have enough strength or foresight, so it’s best for us to just wait and see how things unfold."

At this thought, Hua Yiran put down her watering can. "We need to train even harder. Otherwise, we’ll never be able to help him."

Chunzhu’s expression fell. Her Talent Root Bone was simply too poor, and without a compatible Demon Fiend Bloodline, she feared she wouldn’t get far on the path of Martial Arts.

"Don’t give up," Hua Yiran said comfortingly, sensing Chunzhu’s thoughts. "With our husband’s abilities, he’ll find a Demon Fiend Bloodline for you sooner or later."

Chunzhu forced a smile and nodded. "Come on, let’s go train!"

...

After Lu Changfeng’s decree was issued, the entire Holy City and all of Yunyang Prefecture began to mobilize.

Lu Changfeng wanted speed.

He wanted to conquer the Capital Region in one swift strike, before any of the surrounding powers had time to react.

Once Lin Erfeng understood Lu Changfeng’s intentions, he assembled the Saint Demon Sect’s grand army in just two short days.

The army of the Saint Demon Sect was divided into four main divisions, supplemented by a fifty-thousand-strong Crossbow Army.

The commanders of the four divisions were a mix of members from the Eight Great Demon Sects, ensuring their various Martial Arts would be complementary. Supplemented by ordinary soldiers, this structure was designed to maximize the army’s Combat Power.

Spies from the various powers had only just sent out reports on the unusual movements of the Saint Demon Sect’s army.

That very night, the fully assembled army began its advance!

They marched along the main roads of Yunyang Prefecture, heading straight for the Capital Region!

「Early the next morning. In the great hall of the Imperial Palace.」

Hongg Zai’s expression flickered as he stared at the secret report in his hand.

"This Saint Demon Sect Master... does he want a fight to the death?!"

"Is he insane?"

"How dare he?!"

"Does he think the Daliang Alien Race in the south is just going to stand by and do nothing?!"

Little did Hongg Zai know that unifying the world had long ago lost its appeal for Lu Changfeng. He was now focused on far more profound matters, such as how to extend the lifespan of the Profound Realm, how to survive the Day Count Reset, and how to achieve Domain-Breaking.

In Lu Changfeng’s eyes, the struggles within this small Profound Realm had become nothing more than child’s play.

His reason for conquering the Capital Region this time was merely to get a better vantage point for observing the Demon Miasma Body on Corpse Bone Mountain.