With Yang Yun's forces joining in alongside the strength of the Tianxing Sect, the demonic squads were quickly overwhelmed, barely putting up a fight.
First, the seven cultivators at the Tribulation stage were slain one by one. The rest of the demons soon followed, vanishing into ashes.
Only the demon commander managed to hold out under the joint assault of two Mahayana cultivators. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly risked severe injury to block their attacks, broke out of the siege, and shot straight toward the clouds where Yang Yun floated. He knew exactly what his mission was.
As long as Yang Yun died, this operation wouldn't be considered a failure.
Yang Yun let out a cold laugh. That strange protective barrier appeared in front of him once more. The demon commander, burning the last of his strength, shattered the barrier with all his might—only for the two Mahayana cultivators to close in from behind.
Twin scimitars pierced through his back.
The demon commander glanced at Yang Yun with unwillingness burning in his eyes, then slowly fell from the sky.
Yang Yun watched, face blank.
The two Mahayana cultivators chased after him, ready to finish the job.
"Tian Po, wait!" called out Yun Jin.
Tian Po Sword seemed to understand her intent. A massive blade suddenly appeared, blocking the final blow aimed at the dying demon commander.
Yang Yun's expression shifted.
That sword...
He had seen it before in the projection.
It was Yun Jin's sword.
He hadn't expected this sword to possess such terrifying power. Gazing at the demon commander, who still clung to a sliver of life, Yang Yun narrowed his eyes.
This demon must die. He knew too much. Leaving him alive could lead to trouble.
Yang Yun's gaze flickered. He slowly descended from the sky.
Back during the demon invasion in her previous life...
His cultivation had nearly recovered. He had revealed himself in his adult form. But this time, his cultivation was only at the Divine Transformation stage, and his appearance remained that of a child.
Yang Yun's subordinates quickly gathered around, bowing as they addressed him. "Young Master."
Young Master?
Lin Ya and the others' expressions subtly changed.
They remembered this kid.
Not too long ago, he'd been punished with menial labor after teaming up with Ye Danxia to steal spirit herbs.
And now?
He had transformed into someone's Young Master, and even brought such a formidable group of subordinates? If these people wanted to wipe the Tianxing Sect from existence, they could probably do it with ease.
Fairy Yin Jun couldn't help but ask, "May I ask... who are you exactly?"
Yang Yun offered a gentle smile. "I come from a hidden clan. Back then, I acted improperly while rushing to heal from an injury, which led to an unfortunate conflict with your sect. Later, my family found me. I had originally intended to come and apologize in person, and return the spirit herbs. But I happened to arrive just as these demons were attacking the Tianxing Sect. So I lent a small hand—consider it an apology for the earlier theft."
With his round face and polite demeanor, Yang Yun looked every bit the innocent child. This only made the cultivators of Tianxing Sect feel slightly embarrassed. He was just a child. Maybe he really had been injured back then and desperate to heal.
Now, instead of holding a grudge, he had stepped in to save their sect from destruction. He had become their benefactor.
"We're deeply grateful for your help today," said Fairy Yin Jun quickly. "All of you have saved the Tianxing Sect. Once the Demon-Slaying Alliance arrives, we'll be sure to report your contributions."
Yang Yun smiled faintly, turning his gaze toward the demon commander, whose life was slipping away. Then he looked to Yun Jin with confusion on his face.
"Sister Yun, I saw that sword in the projection. It's yours, right? Why did you protect a demon?"
All eyes turned to Yun Jin.
Indeed, the moment when Tian Po Sword shielded the demon at the last moment had seemed quite odd.
Yun Jin gave a soft laugh. "Little brother, you just don't understand. These demons didn't come just to wreak havoc—they were looking for something. But what exactly? There might be a massive conspiracy behind all this. That demon is the leader of this operation. We have to keep him alive and interrogate him. Who knows what secrets he might spill?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"It's the smart move. He's at the Mahayana stage and clearly not some nobody within the demon race. Handing him over to the Demon-Slaying Alliance could yield valuable intelligence," Fairy Yin Jun said thoughtfully.
"Exactly. If we just kill him now, we'll never know the real reason for tonight's attack."
"He's powerless to resist at the moment. No harm in keeping him alive for now."
Yang Yun's expression darkened slightly.
His previously soft and childish voice now carried a trace of chill. "He's a demon. And all demons must die. Isn't that the purpose of the Demon-Slaying Alliance? Sister Yun, you're not seriously trying to shield him, are you?"
Yun Jin smiled. "Little one, you're still young. You don't understand how adults do things. Don't worry—after we get what we need from him, we'll kill him. Hm? Why are you in such a rush to see him dead? Are you afraid he might reveal something... about you?"
Yang Yun's pupils contracted.
That tone—was she implying something?
But how could that be possible?
Then Yun Jin chuckled. "Just teasing. You're human. He's a demon. What could he possibly know about you?"
Yang Yun flashed a row of innocent little teeth. "Exactly."
But then Yun Jin changed the subject. "That said... even as he was fatally injured, he still tried to kill you. Why is that? Do you two know each other? Or do you have some kind of deep grudge? He claimed he came here searching for something—but the Tianxing Sect is just a mid-tier sect. Aside from the Tianxing Bell, there aren't any real treasures. And he clearly wasn't after the bell. If this search was just an excuse, maybe what he truly came for wasn't a thing... but a person?"
Yang Yun's eyelids twitched violently.
Yun Jin's voice remained calm. "The person he was looking for—could it be you?"
Yang Yun's expression remained unchanged. "You're joking, Sister."
"Hahaha," Yun Jin laughed genuinely. "Of course. Just joking. You're so tense—your face looks scary."
She turned away and walked to the demon commander. He was barely hanging on to life. Apart from his wide-open eyes, he couldn't speak a word.
"That won't do. We can't let him die just yet," Yun Jin said lightly.
Tian Po Sword stepped forward and channeled some of its power into the demon. The improvement in his condition was immediately visible to the naked eye. Not enough to recover, but enough that he could now speak.
"You should be able to talk now," Yun Jin said with a smile. "You've seen it yourself. Everyone you brought has been wiped out. You're the only one left. So let me ask you—what was your true objective here? Did you achieve it?"
The demon commander's lips trembled slightly. His gaze, filled with hate, locked onto Yang Yun from across Yun Jin.
Yun Jin stepped aside, letting everyone see clearly who he was looking at.
Then she feigned shock. "What's this? Your target really is this little boy? That can't be right. He's just a child. How could he be involved with demons?"
Everyone stared at the demon commander's hateful eyes and fell silent, stunned.
What was going on?
Could it be true?
Had the demons really come... for this child?