Enter the Demon Realm, and a demonic tide is about to strike!

Of course, before the Formation could be alerted...

"Suppress!"

Ye Qing was quick of eye and hand, forming a seal with one hand.

A majestic surge of Divine Thought instantly enveloped the area, transforming into streaks of sealing Talismans.

He forcibly suppressed the naturally circulating auras of these Dao Artifacts.

"Phew..."

Having done all this, Ye Qing looked at the dazzling array of Dao Artifacts before him, a satisfied smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He casually picked up a bracelet engraved with mysterious runes.

【God Void Bracelet】:

A Seventh-Rank Peak Grade Dao Artifact, possessing the power to traverse the Void Realm and anchor illusions!

He then picked up a longsword radiating a chilling killing intent.

【dragon soul sword】:

An Eighth-Rank Low Grade Dao Artifact, containing the essence of a dragon's soul, peerless in slaughter!

..."Not bad, not bad."

Ye Qing toyed with the treasures in his hand, feeling emotional.

He had heard that the reason the six top forces of the Central Region could stand tall...

...was because they relied on one or two Seventh-Rank Dao Artifacts as their foundation.

And even the Burning Emperor Sacred Dynasty, known as the number one power...

...supposedly only possessed a single Eighth-Rank Dao Artifact to anchor the nation's destiny on the surface.

But now... Ye Qing's gaze swept over the pile of Dao Artifacts before him.

There were over ten Seventh-Rank Dao Artifacts!

And five Eighth-Rank Dao Artifacts!

This wasn't even counting those high-Rank Divine Pills, Formation diagrams, and Talismans.

"In terms of foundation..."

"I alone probably far surpass the combined total of all the top forces in the Central Region!"

A flash of pride crossed Ye Qing's eyes.

This was his confidence!

Other True Disciples, even the primary or head True Disciples of some top forces...

...might need to call for reinforcements from their backing forces if they encountered an insurmountable danger on the battlefield, waiting for a Sect Old Ancestor to arrive with a Dao Artifact to save the day.

But Ye Qing didn't need that.

He was his own greatest backer!

What he carried with him was a mobile, top-tier treasury!

And usually, most of the time...

...these Dao Artifacts might not even be needed... "Before setting out, I'll pick a few protective Dao Artifacts to bestow upon Xueer and the others for self-preservation."

"As for the Demon Race?"

"The Sacred Sovereign?"

Ye Qing put away all the Dao Artifacts and turned his gaze toward the southeast, his eyes deep.

"I hope you all... can take a bit of a beating."

"Don't get killed by me in just a few hits."

"Otherwise, I'll really have nowhere to test the power of these treasures."

...Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

On this morning.

Outside Phoenix Cry Peak, the sea of clouds churned.

A figure wearing a plain Daoist robe and possessing an immortal air came treading on the clouds.

It was precisely the Head of the Jixia Sacred Academy, Cang Yuanzi!

He looked at Phoenix Cry Peak before him, where Spiritual Qi soared to the heavens and phantoms of true dragons and colorful phoenixes seemed to circle faintly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

This was actually an anomaly produced when Kylin Little Treasure and the Disciples were practicing and testing Treasure Artifacts.

"Young Friend Ye."

Cang Yuanzi's gentle voice rang out:

"The three days are up."

"The Cultivators of the Sacred Academy have already assembled."

"It is time to depart!"

After three days of investigation, it was confirmed that members of the Demon Race had indeed descended into the Demon Domain via a teleportation Formation.

The Demon-Slaying War against the Demon Domain... had officially begun!

Boom!

As Cang Yuanzi's voice fell.

The main gates of the Phoenix Cry Peak palace crashed open!

Ye Qing, dressed in green, strode out, followed by Lin Xueer and the other three, whose eyes were bright; they looked ordinary but were actually fully armed.

Subsequently, they boarded the warship arranged by the Sacred Academy.

"Depart!"

"Rumble—!"

The Sacred Academy warship set off from the academy, breaking through the clouds like a massive steel beast, racing through the sky at an altitude of ten thousand meters.

After some time.

The warship passed through an invisible barrier and entered the Demon Domain territory in the southeast of the Central Region.

This barrier had been jointly set up by many Cultivators of the Central Region; it had no other function than to specifically restrict the Devilish Qi within the Demon Domain from expanding outward.

And after passing through the barrier.

The scenery here changed instantly.

The colors of the world became dark and oppressive, with a thick black demonic mist permeating the sky that sunlight could not penetrate.

The mountains and rivers below had all changed color.

On the ground, ruined cities and debris were everywhere.

In the distance, the hair-raising roars of Demon Puppets could be heard from time to time, and occasionally, the screams of surviving Cultivators.

"This..."

On the warship's deck, those Sacred Academy Cultivators who were originally high-spirited instinctively felt a wave of tension upon seeing this scene.

Their hearts were somewhat dazed.

Even though they were all elites and favored children of heaven.

This was, after all, the first time they were truly facing such a cruel war.

The first time they had stepped onto such a "Hell-like" battlefield map.

Looking at the living Hell below, someone couldn't help but have reddened eyes, lamenting:

"This... is no longer the kind of trial we experienced in the past."

"This is a place where many of my Human Race Cultivators have suffered and died!"

There were also Sacred Academy Cultivators who tightened their grip on their weapons, their gazes cold:

"Since we've come, then we kill!"

"This place will also be the burial ground of the Demon Race!"

...Soon.

The warship hovered in a certain airspace.

"True Disciple Ye, your assigned area has been reached!"

The warship deacon said respectfully.

Hearing this, Ye Qing nodded and flew down, taking Lin Xueer's group of four and the batch of elite Sacred Academy Cultivators assigned to him.

Afterward.

The warship started up again and sped away.

It would drop off the other True Disciples and their teams in other areas.

Ye Qing hovered in mid-air, his gaze like lightning as he scanned the surroundings.

Quickly.

His gaze locked onto a city ahead.

"Is that... Flowing Cloud City?"

The scale of this city wasn't large; it could only be considered a small-to-medium-sized city.

But the good news was that half of the city's defensive Formation remained; although it was severely damaged, it could still be used with a bit of repair.

However.

The bad news was that at this moment, Devilish Qi soared to the heavens within the city, and dense crowds of Demon Puppets wandered the streets like zombies in staggering numbers.

Furthermore.

Ye Qing's Divine Sense also keenly perceived that in some hidden corners and underground chambers within the city...

...there were still quite a few surviving Cultivators with weak auras hiding.

"Having come to this Demon Domain, we urgently need a foothold and a base of operations."

Ye Qing thought to himself.

"This Flowing Cloud City is just right!"

Thus, without any hesitation.

Clang!

Ye Qing's figure flashed, appearing instantly above Flowing Cloud City.

The longsword in his hand unsheathed, and he delivered a horizontal sweep toward the city below!

"Slash!"

Boom—!

The sword light roared!

A brilliant streak of green sword light, like a canopy spreading out, instantly enveloped the entire Flowing Cloud City!

This strike was fast, fierce, and clean!

And incredibly precise!

The sword light seemed to have eyes of its own, accurately locking onto every single Demon Puppet in the city.

Yet it avoided the buildings and the survivors.

It had a sense of handling something heavy as if it were light, and something light as if it were heavy—completely effortless!

"Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!"

"Thwack, thwack, thwack!"

In an instant.

Those roaring Demon Puppets in the city, whether they were at the Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Stage, or even the Soul Transformation Stage... under this single sword strike...

...made no difference; they were annihilated into ash in vast swathes!

Even...

...under the impact of the powerful Sword Qi, the dense Devilish Qi in the city was forcibly carved into a massive 'vacuum zone'!

Sunlight poured down through this hard-won rift, illuminating this city filled with despair.

The surviving Cultivators hiding in dark corners heard the commotion.

Some plucked up the courage to look up.

Immediately, their eyes widened one by one, their hearts shocked to the extreme!

"A god... could it be a miracle?!"

...As the sword light dissipated.

The Demon Puppets were completely wiped out!

The entire Flowing Cloud City also fell silent in an instant.

Those Sacred Academy Cultivators who had followed Ye Qing were also staring dumbfoundedly.

This was the first time they had truly witnessed the powerful strength of this legendary 'True Disciple'.

In the past, they had only heard of the various exploits of True Disciple Ye.

They had never seen True Disciple Ye take action with their own eyes.

But now... "This, this is too strong..."

Someone muttered to themselves.

If they were to do it themselves, wanting to take down this Flowing Cloud City crowded with Demon Puppets...

...it would likely take a lot of effort and might even result in significant casualties.

But now.

True Disciple Ye had cleared the field... with just one sword strike?

Previously, they had only heard of Ye Qing's brilliant battle achievements and knew he was strong.

But they had no concrete concept.

But now.

Most people had clearly realized:

"The gap between us and True Disciple Ye is too vast!"

"Following this True Disciple... we are truly here to 'fight a war and win merits'!"

"We're really not here to throw our lives away!"

This sense of security was simply overflowing!

..."Mu Mu."

At this moment, Ye Qing sheathed his sword, his expression calm.

"The Demon Puppets in the city are dead, but the Devilish Qi is still thick. It's your turn to act."

It was time for Mu Mu to use her racial talent to purify this Devilish Qi!

"Mm-hmm! Master, watch me!"

Mu Mu responded in a milky voice.

Immediately.

Under everyone's puzzled gazes.

A sapling that looked weak and fragile flew out from Ye Qing's bosom.

It hovered above Flowing Cloud City.

"What is this for?"

"What can a little sapling like this do?"

"Won't it just be blown away by a gust of wind?"

Everyone couldn't help but feel confused.

But in the next moment.

"Buzz—!"

Mu Mu landed, her roots instantly exploding in growth, anchoring directly into the depths of the city center's earth veins!

Following that.

"Swish, swish, swish, swish! Swish, swish, swish!"

A sacred, vast aura of the World Tree, full of vitality, erupted outward!

Ripples of emerald green light, visible to the naked eye, radiated out from Mu Mu as the center!

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!"

The Devilish Qi that was stubbornly clinging to the city walls, the ground, and the air...

...encountered this green light and was like snow meeting a scorching sun.

At a rapid speed, it was stripped away layer by layer, purified, and dissolved!

In just a few moments.

The Devilish Qi in the entire Flowing Cloud City was purified until it was completely clean!

Not only that.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the city, which had originally been exhausted, began to flow back after the Devilish Qi dissipated.

In the area near Mu Mu, the Spiritual Qi even became several times denser than outside!

Those surviving injured Cultivators in the city, under the nourishment of the life aura emitted by Mu Mu...

...their injuries actually began to heal automatically, and they recovered significantly!

"This..."

"This is simply a divine tree!"

For a moment, the Cultivators in the city looked at Mu Mu with gazes full of reverence and fervor.

Who could understand this feeling?

It was like a divine spring falling from the heavens while one was in despair in a desert!

And after Mu Mu finished the purification, she seemed to be full; her branches and leaves stretched out, becoming even more emerald and translucent.

She quietly avoided everyone's reverent gazes, feeling a bit embarrassed.

She let out a quiet burp.

"I ate a bit too much, hehe~"

At the same time, the aura of her cultivation level also became visibly stronger... Ye Qing saw this and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Not bad."

He found that Mu Mu anchoring herself in Flowing Cloud City brought many benefits!

First, by purifying the Devilish Qi, Mu Mu could grow rapidly herself; this was killing two birds with one stone.

Secondly.

Mu Mu's anchoring in Flowing Cloud City clearly allowed everyone to feel an extremely rare 'sense of security' in this peril-filled Demon Domain!

This kind of feeling was difficult to create and extremely precious.

Furthermore, within Flowing Cloud City.

With Mu Mu's protection, Cultivators didn't even need to rely on Medicinal Pills; as long as they sat and rested, they could achieve excellent recovery effects.

These were all benefits brought by the excess energy that Mu Mu couldn't consume after purifying the Devilish Qi.

This was the benefit of the dissipating energy she couldn't eat.

"This is equivalent to a mobile fountain of life!"

The Sacred Academy Cultivators were also very shocked.

It was their first time seeing...

...in a dead land like the Demon Domain...

...a 'perfect base' appear that could allow for rest, self-sufficiency, and long-term stationing, even without external supplies for a long time!

Indeed, following True Disciple Ye brings great benefits!

...Subsequently.

Ye Qing ordered everyone to enter the city and begin repairing the defenses and building up Flowing Cloud City.

In addition.

He emphasized to his Disciples once more:

"Remember!"

"Survival is the first priority!"

"Save others if you have the spare strength, but remember not to overreach or act rashly!"

Lin Xueer, Su Chan, and the other two all agreed.

At the moment, everyone was full of energy.

After some time.

With everyone's efforts, Flowing Cloud City quickly regained its vitality.

The defensive Formation was also back in operation.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion.

Ye Qing was standing before a map, considering which direction to move next to save more surviving Cultivators.

Suddenly.

"Hmm?"

He sensed something, his heart stirring as his brow furrowed slightly.

At the same time.

Kylin Little Treasure, who was responsible for scouting outside the city, also sent an urgent message:

"Woof! Not good! This is bad!"

"So many Demon Puppets! Countless Demon Puppets are converging toward Flowing Cloud City!"

"It seems they were attracted by the commotion just now!"

"Most of the Demon Puppets are of low Rank, but their numbers are terrifying, like a tsunami or a landslide! They're uncountable, simply uncountable! And there are also many high-Rank Demon Puppets with profound cultivation hidden among them!"

Upon receiving the news.

The Sacred Academy Cultivators in the city also became tense.

"The Demon Tide is coming?"

However.

Some people were very relaxed, even a bit nonchalant.

They said with a smile:

"What's there to fear?"

"In any case, True Disciple Ye is here!"

"When the time comes, won't True Disciple Ye just clear the field with one sword strike? We'll just cheer from the back!"

Hearing this, many people's eyes lit up.

That made sense!

And perceiving this lax sentiment.

Ye Qing's gaze turned slightly cold.

He had indeed originally intended to take action and resolve it.

But on second thought.

Ye Qing decided that this time, facing the tide of Demon Puppets...

...he would not act!

Everything would be left to the others to handle personally!