Chapter 113: When the Tide Arrived

Outside the Black Desolation Sect, the earth trembled beneath the advance of tens of thousands of demonic beasts.

They surged across the landscape like an endless flood, their roars shaking the heavens. Tigers with hides as thick as armor ran alongside bristling boars, iron-scaled lizards, and bears the size of houses. Their forms varied, but all shared the same bloodthirsty hunger and the same destination.

Leading the charge was a Stormfang Wolf nearly twenty zhang tall.

Its dark blue fur was streaked with silver markings, and lightning crackled between its fangs whenever it roared. Thunder rumbled around its limbs with every stride, while a gathering storm followed above its head. Even among the countless beasts surrounding it, its immense frame stood out like a moving mountain.

Yet the Stormfang Wolf was far from the most terrifying presence in the approaching tide.

High above the army hovered seven figures. Five were Demon Kings, each radiating an aura powerful enough to make the surrounding space tremble. Beside them stood a white-haired man whose sinister air made it difficult to tell whether he was truly human or a demonic beast in human form.

The final figure was Cang Kui, the Black Calamity Demon Lord, a Ninth-Grade existence equivalent to the Severing Realm. He remained suspended above the approaching tide with an air of indifference, as though the countless beasts below were merely an extension of his will.

"Was there really a need for all of us to come here?" one of the Demon Kings asked, his voice tinged with displeasure. "Even an esteemed Demon Lord has personally joined this operation. Aren’t we making too much of the Black Desolation Sect?"

"Those twin sisters are not opponents to be underestimated," another Demon King replied. "There’s a reason they’re known as the Demonic Sisters."

"But one of them has been in seclusion for more than fifty years," a third pointed out. "From what we can tell, she still hasn’t emerged. It doesn’t look like she’ll participate in this battle. That leaves only one of them."

"Even then, we’re talking about the Heavenly Twin Stars. Do you think either of them is easy to deal with?"

The Demon Kings continued to argue, some considering their assembled forces excessive, while others remained wary of the twins’ reputation.

Finally, Cang Kui raised a hand.

"Enough."

His calm voice silenced the discussion.

"Strong or not, the Demonic Sisters are not our goal. The Black Desolation Sect is. Kill as many of their cultivators as you can. If we can kill them all, we will. If not, we drag out the battle until the sect is destroyed."

His expression remained indifferent as he looked down at the seemingly endless tide beneath them.

"We have no need to win a glorious battle. We only need to ensure that the Black Desolation Sect no longer exists when this is over."

His words settled the unease among the Demon Kings somewhat, but one of them still appeared troubled.

"What about the teleportation array? If the sect is pushed too far, won’t they activate it and summon reinforcements? If someone from the Ji Clan on the Yunhai Continent comes to their aid, things could become troublesome."

The white-haired man answered before Cang Kui could speak.

"That won’t be possible for the time being. I’ve received information that activating the teleportation array requires an enormous quantity of spirit stones. The Black Desolation Sect has been suffering from a shortage, so they shouldn’t be able to use it easily."

Cang Kui glanced at him, a trace of disdain flashing through his eyes.

"Whether that information is reliable remains to be seen. But even if the Black Desolation Sect manages to activate the array, the Ji Clan on the Yunhai Continent is already under attack. They won’t have the freedom to send a force large enough to turn this battle around."

The white-haired man said nothing more.

With that concern addressed, the seven figures turned their attention back to the sect ahead... clashing was imminent.

-----

At the main gate of the Black Desolation Sect, more than half of its members had gathered to face the approaching enemy.

Disciples stood alongside elders and peak masters, while the deputy sect leader, Luo Yunjin, stood at the forefront.

Beyond the sect’s protective formations, the horizon had all but disappeared beneath the approaching demonic beasts. The sheer scale of the army was enough to shake the resolve of even seasoned cultivators.

Some couldn’t hide the fear on their faces, while others struggled to stand against the pressure rolling off the tide. Those from the four newer peaks were especially uneasy. Having joined the sect relatively recently, they lacked the same faith in the Heavenly Twin Stars as the older members, and the prospect of facing such an overwhelming enemy terrified them even more.

Noticing their unease, Luo Yunjin shouted, "The demonic beasts have declared war on all humanity in the Cangchen World! It isn’t only our sect. Every place is under attack. If you run, there will be nowhere to shelter you!"

"Fight! Kill as many of them as you can!"

"The Heavenly Twin Stars stand behind us! There is no way we’ll lose!"

As if to affirm their words, Ji Yan appeared above the sect gates and made her move.

She didn’t use any special technique. She simply punched with her small fist.

Yes, it was a simple punch... a punch wrapped in flames so powerful that it seemed capable of wiping out the entire demonic beast tide.

The Demon Kings in the sky immediately recognized the danger. Two of them descended to intercept the attack, meeting the blazing fist with their combined strength.

The collision shook the air. Even after stopping the punch, however, both Demon Kings were visibly shaken by Ji Yan’s strength.

Her attack wasn’t over.

If one punch wasn’t enough, she would simply throw more.

Her fists blurred as she unleashed a barrage of flaming punches upon the demonic beast tide. The two Demon Kings did their best to intercept them, but they couldn’t block every strike. Explosions erupted across the advancing horde, swallowing countless beasts in flames.

By the time the barrage ended, roughly a tenth of the demonic beast tide lay dead.

The disciples and elders of the Black Desolation Sect erupted into cheers. Ji Yan had barely started, yet she had already slaughtered thousands of their enemies.

Their excitement didn’t last long.

Just as another wave of flaming punches was about to descend, Cang Kui, the Black Calamity Demon Lord, finally intervened. With a sweep of his hand, he extinguished the remaining flames and brought the attack to a complete halt.

The two Demon Kings who had blocked Ji Yan’s initial punch looked miserable. Their clothes were scorched and torn, and burns covered parts of their bodies. Neither dared utter a word from embarrassment.

Cang Kui, meanwhile, looked directly at Ji Yan.

"Are you in such a hurry to fight? I don’t mind keeping you company."

Ji Yan narrowed her eyes.

She was tempted. She wanted nothing more than to stomp the worm who dared challenge her into the ground, and on any other day, she would have done exactly that.

But Ji Yue wasn’t here to stand beside her.

After a cold snort, Ji Yan held back and retreated toward Luo Yunjin and the other elders.

Seeing the worry still lingering on their faces, she gave them an innocent, gentle smile reminiscent of Ji Yue’s usual expression.

"Anyone who runs away out of fear will die by my hands. Keep that in mind while you fight."

Her warning was aimed primarily at the forces from the four newer peaks, many of whom had joined the Black Desolation Sect after the previous conflict.

They understood the implication perfectly, and their expressions grew even grimmer. Ji Yan hadn’t singled them out by name, but her warning applied to everyone. This wasn’t a battle they could simply abandon when things went south.

Ji Yan then turned toward Ruxi, who had arrived alongside her.

"Your job is to defend the sect, not attack like the others. I don’t want the sect grounds breached. I’ll only intervene if those six figures in the sky make a move. Otherwise, it’s yours."

"Understood. Please leave it to me." Ruxi nodded solemnly, understanding the reason behind Ji Yan’s instructions.

At that moment, the tide, no longer held back, crashed against the front gate of the Black Desolation Sect.

The disciples rushed forward to meet the weaker beasts, while the elders engaged the more powerful ones. Above them, the peak masters moved to intercept the enormous Stormfang Wolf, whose thunderous roars shook the battlefield.

The battle for the Black Desolation Sect had begun.