On the side of the Demon Race, there was a Floating Demon Hall.
The Demon Master, the Four Heavenly Demons, and other Demon Race Powerful Experts gathered together, conversing through demonic Divine Thought.
"It should have been like this long ago. Let This Venerable lead the troops to charge, crush them in one go!"
"That's much more satisfying."
At this moment, the voices of many Demon Race Powerful Experts revealed excitement.
However, the Demon Master poured cold water on them:
"Crush them?"
"If we launch a full-scale attack, we could certainly force these people back, and even slay a few Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm Experts, but this result is not what I want to see, nor is it what Lord Nine Lives Emperor Lord wants to see."
"The Immortal Dao Legacy has spanned eternal ages, surviving countless great tribulations, relying precisely on these 'variables' who rise up during calamities—these 'seeds' carrying great Luck and great perseverance."
The Demon Master's voice carried a chilling coldness that seemed to pierce through time.
"Lord Emperor Lord has already issued the Demon Ancestor's Decree to find these variables at any cost. Look at these Prodigies from the Lingxu Immortal Domain: Lu Fan, who bears the fortune of a Human Emperor, can be called an Emperor of Eternal Ages; Jiang Hao, with his Chaos Body and Immortal King Bone, possesses such profound Innate talent that he rivals the Innate Divine Sages of antiquity; and Su Ming, Nangong Wenjian, and the others—none of them are ordinary beings. Given time, they are capable of achieving the Hunyuan Realm, or even higher!"
When these names were mentioned, the expressions of all the Demon Race members in the hall turned solemn, and they put away their contempt.
After this period of fighting, even they had come to acknowledge this group of enemies.
"Does the Military Advisor mean..."
A chilling Divine Thought asked.
"We cannot let go of these potential 'variables.' This is the instruction given by Lord Emperor Lord."
The Demon Master said in a sinister tone:
"Do not give them any chance to grow! Eradicating these 'variables' is far more significant than occupying a few territories or slaughtering ordinary Immortal Dao Cultivators!"
Since the Demon Master had brought up the Nine Lives Emperor Lord and even the Demon Ancestor, the assembled demons did not dare to defy him and could only continue asking the Demon Master for his strategy.
In their view, victory was already inevitable anyway.
The Demon Master felt a slight sense of self-satisfaction watching these Demon Race Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm Experts all inquire of him.
Only the Four Heavenly Demons had remained silent throughout, a sharp light flickering in his eyes.
Unlike the other demons, he understood the situation much better than anyone else.
What confidence did these Immortal Dao Prodigies have to resist them?
...On the other side.
In a Celestial Boat high in the Nine Heavens clouds.
On the Light Screen, the apocalyptic scene on the Lingxu front line was clearly visible in every detail.
Yue Tian's eyes flickered with faint light.
"Judging by this Formation, the Demon Race is getting serious."
His tone was flat, as if he were commenting on a drama unrelated to himself.
"That's fine. The harder they work and the more they crush the Lingxu Immortal Domain, the more boundless the Karma will appear when the Emperor Lord steps in later to 'turn the tide,' and the more those 'hard bones' who manage to survive... will learn gratitude."
His gaze swept over the figures on the Light Screen, and the curve of his mouth deepened.
"The struggle of trapped beasts only adds to the sorrow. Let's see how long you can hold out before begging for aid."
Yue Tian picked up the Jade Nectar and drank it in one gulp, as if he had already foreseen the moment Lu Fan and the others would ultimately crush their tokens and beg for help.
The two Divine Generals couldn't help but admire Yue Tian, flattering him:
"Lord aide, you are truly brilliant."
...On the other side, Shenji City.
Ancestor Shenhui, at this moment, had his hair and beard bristling, and his originally vigorous face was etched with worry. He stared intently at the several towering, demonic figures in the sky; every silhouette was an existence above the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm.
He didn't even dare to count the Demon Race members in the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm; a slight Divine Sense scan revealed dozens of them.
What terrifying power this was.
"Is this Demon Tribulation... truly going to destroy our Lingxu Dao Lineage?"
He mourned internally, but forcefully suppressed his emotions.
As the most senior person in the Lingxu Heavenly Palace currently, he could not panic. The other Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm Experts of the Lingxu Immortal Domain also wore grave expressions.
They realized that they had been far too optimistic in the past. Once the Demon Race used its true power, it was no longer the minor skirmishes from before. The outcome was no longer decided by Grand Unity Golden Immortals, but by the struggles of far more Powerful Experts.
It was obvious that in the struggle between the Immortal and Demon sides, their Lingxu Immortal Domain was expendable.
Jiang Xuangang stood atop the War Fortress, his body surging with magical power, jointly maintaining a powerful protective Formation that covered a thousand li radius around Shenji City, along with over ten Grand Unity Golden Immortal Experts.
His face was ashen, and watching the Demonic Tide approach, he felt profound powerlessness.
Shenji City could now be called the final defense line of the Lingxu Immortal Domain. Once it fell, the entire Lingxu Immortal Domain would be transformed into a Demon Territory, and countless living beings would become sacrifices.
"What a pity... If only Hao'er and the others had more time, perhaps the outcome would be different."
Jiang Xuangang sighed, feeling regret for Jiang Hao and the others.
At the same time.
Above Lu Fan's head floated the Human Emperor Seal, golden light showering down, radiating unmatched might.
When his Divine Sense spread out, he could clearly perceive the defense line tottering. The Demon Race's first simple wave of attack alone was already somewhat unbearable for them.
The endless black tsunami surged wave after wave, and the pressure exerted by the Demon Race Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm Experts was like a sword hanging overhead, ready to strike at any moment.
"It's even more intense... than expected."
His heart felt heavy.
Although they had prepared early, the intensity of the Demon Race's general offensive still far exceeded their estimates. Even though they were hiding Little Red, a Great Killing Weapon, it might not necessarily be able to turn the tide.
Beside him, Jiang Hao frowned tightly. The Demon Race had attacked once and then stopped, which left him confused:
"What is the meaning of this move by the Demon Race?"
"If their main army pressed forward, we would likely have been routed long ago."
As soon as he spoke, everyone else felt puzzled as well.
This level of power was beyond saving through strategy or anything else. Even if their Aptitude was high and their combat strength was unrivaled among those of the same Realm, they could not possibly contend against so many existences of the same Realm, plus enemies far exceeding their Realm.
"This doesn't align with the Demon Race's usual style."
Nangong Wenjian pondered for a moment, then calmly analyzed:
"Perhaps we'll have an answer soon."
Just as everyone was filled with doubt and uncertainty, a voice devoid of any emotion suddenly rang out from the rolling Demonic Clouds in the sky:
"Immortal Dao beings of the Lingxu Immortal Domain."
The voice, utterly cold, echoed throughout every corner of the battlefield.
The source of the voice was precisely the direction of the Floating Demon Hall, the Demon Race's central command.
In front of the Demon Hall, the Demon Master's gaunt figure slowly materialized. Although still shrouded in the shadow of his hood, his presence instantly overshadowed all the sounds of fighting on the battlefield.
"Your struggles are futile; annihilation is imminent."
The Demon Master's voice stated plainly, as if speaking of an established fact.
"However, Heaven and Earth have order, and the Great Dao has balance. Although our Race seeks to redefine the universe, we do not wish to exterminate without instruction. Observing your Aptitude, you indeed possess extraordinary qualities. For you to perish here would be a pity, and would also harm the Natural Order."
These words stunned all the Immortal Dao Cultivators on the battlefield, including Ancestor Shenhui, Jiang Xuangang, and the others.
The Demon Race... talking about the Natural Order?
Pitying talent?
What a joke.
Lu Fan and the others felt alarm bells ringing in their hearts, knowing well that this was definitely not the Demon Race showing mercy.
Sure enough, the Demon Master changed the subject, his voice gaining an elusive quality, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue:
"Therefore, our Race proposes a wager with you. Do you dare to accept?"
"A wager?"
Jiang Hao couldn't help but let out a low shout, "You Devil Head, what trick are you trying to pull now!"
The Demon Master ignored Jiang Hao's question and continued speaking in his steady yet extremely penetrating voice:
"The stakes are the ownership of this Lingxu Immortal Domain."
"The rules are simple: both sides will set up an Arena and send out one Powerful Expert for combat."
"It will be a best-of-seven series. The winner gains control over the Lingxu Immortal Domain. The loser... must withdraw from this Domain and is forbidden from infringing upon it for ten thousand years."
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene erupted in an uproar!
Inside Shenji City, countless Cultivators first felt a thread of absurd hope—it seemed... there was a glimmer of life?