342: Chapter 342 The Darkest Hour

The ninth month of Shen Xingchen's disappearance.

The atmosphere in the conference hall was unprecedentedly heavy.

Jiang Shuo sat at the very head of the table and asked, "Haven't the group of people sent out to search for Marshal Yu returned yet?"

A soldier at the very end spoke, "Our men lose contact as soon as they enter the Wuxi Swamp. This is already the third batch."

The generals fell silent.

If Marshal Yu had been present to oversee the last major battle, the battlefield in the Xiang Realm definitely wouldn't have been so tragic. Unfortunately, there were no ifs.

The generals discussed and analyzed the battle situation, deploying defenses according to the major strategic points.

After all, humans were not like the demons—crucial, cold-blooded, and devouring each other to increase their power. Demonic Qi was passed back and forth among demons, making the consumption of this war extremely small for the demons.

The human race was different; humans needed to be nurtured, and once they died, they would only turn into a handful of dust.

As one waxed and the other waned, the casualty ratio between the soldiers of Snowfield Dragon City and the demons gradually evolved from 2:1 previously to 5:1. If this continued, they ultimately wouldn't be able to hold on.

This meeting lasted for a long time, and in the end, they could only sigh helplessly.

Finally, only two King-ranks were left in the conference hall.

Qiyuan looked at the graceful figure sitting alone on the edge of the city wall and asked, "Are you really planning to let her be this willful all the time?"

Jiang Shuo gave a bitter smile, "She's grown up and has her own thoughts. What can I, as a father, do?"

Qiyuan showed a worried expression, "But the Authority of Reincarnation cannot be used so without restriction. Otherwise, she will go crazy!"

The conference hall fell silent for a long time, and finally a long sigh came from it.

...

Jiang Qingyao sat atop the city wall, gazing into the distance.

Her temperament was already somewhat cold, and due to the Authority of Reincarnation, her memories were in a state of chaos. If not for the support of beautiful memories in her heart, she would have long since collapsed.

"Brother Xingchen, I will wait for you."

...

The tenth month of Shen Xingchen's disappearance.

The demons launched a general offensive once again. This time, besides the mighty and numerous demon soldiers, three King-ranks descended at the same time.

Youji, Quling, and a woman dressed in white.

They concealed themselves in the dark clouds.

Behind Youji, the Sun and Moon Rotation Diagram seemed to contain the entire river of stars, and his aura became increasingly unfathomable.

Quling was still dressed as a gentleman in black, appearing elegant and graceful, only that his pair of eyes gradually became deep and unfathomable, making it impossible for people to guess his thoughts.

The most eye-catching one was still the woman in white.

She resembled a human female, wearing only a plain white dress that nevertheless outlined her breathtaking grace. Holding an ink-cloud umbrella in her hand, she stood in the wind with her sleeves fluttering. If not for the setting off of the two fiends beside her, ordinary people would definitely have thought this was some immortal fairy descending to the mortal world.

The woman in white had a pleasant-sounding name... Mengchen!

This battle was an extremely tragic one.

At the cost of Jiang Shuo being heavily injured and Qiyuan being lightly injured, Snowfield Dragon City ultimately resisted the offensive of the three Demon Kings who held the authorities.

The three Demon Kings all sustained varying degrees of injuries, but compared to Jiang Shuo, it was still far too relaxed for them.

In the end, the three Demon Kings still chose to recuperate for a period of time, because they could not guarantee whether Jiang Shuo's final counterattack would trade away one of them.

This battle also shattered the faith that Snowfield Dragon City had accumulated over this period.

People gradually realized the true strength of the demons: they actually had three King-ranks, all holding authorities, whereas on their side, Miss Jiang, who held the Authority of Reincarnation, had only recently advanced into the Xiang Realm not long ago...

...

A full year since Shen Xingchen disappeared.

On this day, the three Demon Kings holding authorities descended upon Snowfield Dragon City once again.

This time, Jiang Shuo's injuries had not yet healed, but the Demon Kings remained.

...

Firmament Dao Palace.

The ethereal immortal mist obscured this world into a hazy state, with vast purple Qi presenting an immortal style.

Inside Zixiao Pavilion.

Shen Xingchen sat cross-legged on the rush mat with his eyes tightly closed, as if he had fallen into a deep state of meditation.

His aura was not as sharp as before, but had instead become calm and restrained, resembling a long sword that had finally returned to its scabbard with its divine radiance hidden within.

However, his aura was several geometric multiples stronger than before.

Ascension Realm, or rather, King-rank... He had reached it shortly after entering this palace a year ago. At that time, the entire Dao Palace was in turmoil, and if not for this grotto-heaven being isolated from the world, it would definitely have attracted the attention of the entire world.

Over this past year, he had gradually progressed from the initial stage of the Ascension Realm to the peak of the Ascension Realm, but no matter what, he could not take that step out.

Exiled Immortal... What on earth was it?

No matter what, Shen Xingchen could not touch that bottleneck, as if the Great Dao had missing flaws, with no trajectories and no clues.

Around him, countless precious spells were scattered to the side.

Among the Three Thousand Dao Treasuries, Shen Xingchen did not know how many he had practiced, only knowing that his sole pursuit in the end was that illusory Dao.

Dao... What on earth is Dao!?

The beginning of heaven and earth, the primal origin of all things?

Shen Xingchen did not know how long he had pondered this question, but in the end, he still could not arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.

Dao was illusory; it was something that cultivators could never know in their entire lives, yet it was also the place of their fanatical obsession.

"..."

With a long sigh, he ended this self-questioning and self-answering.

"It is time to go out!"

Shen Xingchen stood up and gently flicked his sleeve, returning the scattered bamboo slips back into the lattice rack.

The agreed time with Qiyuan had arrived. Going out at this moment, although he couldn't resolve the "Emperor" of the demons, those secondary King-ranks no longer posed any threat.

Walking out of Zixiao Pavilion.

Shen Xingchen walked in the void, every step blooming with a green lotus—that was the trace of transforming into the Dao!

Snowfield Dragon City.

All the soldiers wore solemn expressions; this battle was truly a battle of survival.

Quling's voice came from the sky, "Jiang Shuo, crawl out and accept your death!"

Youji's eyes were similarly excited.

This time their injuries had fully recovered, and facing a heavily injured King-rank was as easy as picking up something from the ground. Snowfield Dragon City had guarded this place for over three hundred years, and after all, it was about to become history!

Mengchen still stood plainly and cleanly at the edge of the sky, noncommittal regarding Quling's words.

Occupying this planet was the highest instruction issued by the "Emperor". If that day truly arrived, the demons would definitely be able to develop even more prosperously than now, and her own strength would also become even greater under the baptism of the Emperor.

Golden flames outlined Jiang Shuo's figure.

His complexion was still as pale as paper, but his gaze was exceptionally sharp, "You spawn of the demons, have you thought about which one of you is going to die in Grandpa's hands?"

On the other side.

Qiyuan wore the thunder emperor armor, her purple hair fluttering. Her originally round face looked extremely heroic because of this attire.

Youji said disdainfully, "Mr. Jiang, with your current state, you'd better not think about those utterly impossible matters."

Jiang Shuo glanced at Qiyuan.

Qiyuan shook her head.

Jiang Shuo felt slightly disappointed, but immediately let it go and chuckled softly, "Then today, I will buy that brat a little more time. I'd like to see if he can return before this old father-in-law of his dies!"

Youji sneered, "Delusional!"

Behind him, the Sun and Moon Rotation Diagram shone with brilliant light, crushing down as if replacing the vast river of stars.

The sun and moon alternate, endless and ceaseless!

A huge suction force burst forth from the diagram, as if there was a boundless starry sky inside the scroll.

Everyone present felt their minds and souls shake upon seeing this.

The might of a King-rank was terrifying to this extent!

That pitch-black moment that everyone in their hearts was unwilling to accept had ultimately descended...

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(PS: Good night, everyone!)