Above the small town.
A group of Golden Body Realm experts wore shifting expressions, all unease in their hearts.
It wanted them to release the other Demon Kings?
What an outrageous demand!
No wonder the other side had deliberately left behind treasures to lure them here.
So this was what it had been for.
Many Ancient Clans knew that, back when their ancestors had yet to withdraw from this land, humans and demons stood opposed, and the earth had been far from peaceful, filled at every moment with bloody struggles between the Human Race and the Demon Race.
Since ancient times, the battles between the two races had never ceased.
Many Demon Kings had been suppressed by the Human Race.
Likewise, many human sages had died at the hands of Demon Kings.
Later, as heaven and earth changed and Spirit Energy vanished, both the Demon Race and the Ancient Clans gradually sensed that something was wrong. They went into seclusion at the same time, and that retreat lasted several thousand years...
Yet with the Demon Kings' vast lifespans, being suppressed for several thousand years did not necessarily mean they were dead.
At the very least, they knew of several places where Demon Kings were still clinging to life.
Once those creatures were released, it was hard to imagine what would happen.
Moreover, today's events had deeply shocked them.
The demons had never truly gone far away!
They had been lurking in the shadows all along!
"We cannot possibly agree to this!"
Zhao Xuantian, the Imperial Family's old ancestor, could not help saying.
"Not agree? Then do not blame me."
That icy voice slowly rang out.
"Wait!"
Dugu Wudi shouted, "We need to discuss this matter."
"You have only the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. Once that time passes, I will begin a massacre."
The icy being spoke.
Its original intention had been to lure over some late-stage Golden Body Realm experts.
Yet it had not expected these humans to send only representatives.
However, after seeing the strength of these representatives, it was even more satisfied.
Because they were all human geniuses!
With them in its grasp, it did not fear that the other side would refuse to obey.
"What do you all think?"
Dugu Wudi cut off the surrounding world, his expression slightly cold as he turned toward the Ancient Clans.
The Ancient Clan experts all looked grim, unable to say anything.
The moment they emerged into the world, they had been ruthlessly schemed against.
This feeling...
Was extremely unpleasant...
Especially since it was the work of Otherworlders, beings with whom they shared a blood feud.
As everyone discussed the matter.
Inside the secret realm.
Lu Chen's body suddenly stiffened. His heart shook as he learned of the situation outside through this wave of spiritual consciousness from Dugu Wudi.
"A Demon King?"
"Yes. I should have thought of it long ago. This place is entirely a trap. A Demon King is using these treasures as bait to fish for us deliberately. It wants to force us to release the other sealed Demon Kings..."
This fragment of Dugu Wudi's consciousness spoke with extreme difficulty.
"Release the other Demon Kings?"
Lu Chen's expression changed.
His first thought was of the Demon King suppressed deep within the Sky Sword Sect.
That Demon King had been imprisoned for several thousand years without dying.
If a being of that realm were released, how many people would it need to kill to recover its vitality?
"How is the situation outside? What do the Ancient Clans think?"
Lu Chen asked.
"They are still discussing it..."
Dugu Wudi said with difficulty, "The other side has given us only the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. I estimate they will still compromise. Even I will compromise..."
He did not want to see Lu Chen die.
Lu Chen's talent was unprecedented and would never be seen again.
So what if they released the Demon Kings?
As long as Lu Chen was given time, he believed that with Lu Chen's strength, he would surely be able to slay the Demon Kings and accomplish things that many human sages had failed to achieve.
A temporary compromise was nothing.
Life was about choices and sacrifices to begin with.
It was merely a matter of how great the benefits were.
Lu Chen fell silent.
But suddenly, he sensed something. Realizing something was wrong, his powerful spiritual force swept violently in all directions, blanketing heaven and earth. A sharp glint flashed through his eyes.
The once silent secret realm, devoid of any demonic beasts, now seemed to perform a magic trick. One powerful demon after another suddenly emerged from every direction.
Each demon looked hideous and possessed a towering body. Some were covered in scales, some had sharp claws, some possessed thick tails, while black mist coiled around others...
There were countless numbers of them, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Previously, it was as if they had been hidden within some formation, leaving no trace of anything unusual.
Now that the Demon King had laid its cards on the table.
They emerged one after another as though organized and disciplined, gathering in groups as they surrounded the human experts.
The people who had been fiercely fighting over secret treasures all sensed the anomaly at this moment, their expressions changing drastically.
"Demons, these are demons!"
"This is bad! Where did so many demons come from?"
There were simply too many.
There were almost more than they had seen in the Ancient Clan Pure Land.
And these demons were far too united. They moved in groups, soundlessly and silently, chilling everyone to the bone.
Everyone knew something was about to go wrong.
This secret realm was very likely a conspiracy!
These demons had deliberately lured them inside.
Many clever humans immediately shot into the sky, preparing to flee. Yet the instant they rose, a streak of dark light flashed through the air. A pitch-black claw reached out from within it and seized those humans.
With merely a light squeeze.
Bang! The humans caught in its grasp all exploded into blood mist.
Only then did everyone see clearly that the dark light was a tall figure with wings on its back and a bird's beak. Its eyes were sharp, its hands were eagle claws, yet each claw possessed five fingers.
It was a powerful demon.
It was comparable to a fourth-level Golden Body Realm expert.
Its voice was cold as it circled in the air. "No one may leave. Surrender without resistance, and you may live. Otherwise, there will be no mercy!"
The crowd immediately descended into chaos.
How could anyone truly believe its words?
If they really surrendered without resistance, they would likely die horribly.
Boom!
Ye Wushe of the Thunder Prison Clan immediately unleashed overwhelming lightning, charging toward the bird-like demon.
Lie Wujin of the Yanhuang Ancient Clan followed by blasting forth endless flames toward the skies.
"Run!"
"Break out!"
The crowd instantly fell into disorder.
Countless people fled in every direction.
But the many demons were organized and disciplined. They had already surrounded everyone so tightly that not even water could pass through.
Furthermore, the locations of those exotic treasures had all been specially arranged.
It was all for the sake of conveniently wiping them out in one net.
A brutal battle immediately erupted across the area.
In a single exchange, the Human Race fell into a disadvantage.
Flesh, corpses, screams... everything was utter chaos.
Even Lu Chen was directly attacked by a demon.
But he snorted coldly. A flash of blade light streaked out, and he cleaved the demon apart on the spot almost immediately.
A demon comparable to the second level of the Golden Body Realm was split in two after just one exchange.
You killed a powerful demon. Merit Points +6000!
A line of text appeared.
Lu Chen's eyes flickered as he looked down at the chaos below.
As expected, demons provided Merit Points at an exceptionally high rate.
Even the most vicious humans could not compare to them.
He dove sharply, about to join the battle below.
But powerful demons quickly shot into the sky again. One of them wielded a steel fork and viciously thrust it toward Lu Chen.
Clang!
Splurt!
With another move, the second demon comparable to the Golden Body Realm died on the spot, split into two.
...Merit Points +6000!
Then came the third, the fourth...
One powerful demon after another charged out and surrounded Lu Chen.
In an instant, Lu Chen was plunged into tremendous pressure as well.
"Sword Draw Slay Heavens Art!"
Clang!
Whoosh!
In a single exchange, golden ripples swept out, and every attack rushing toward him was shattered by a single sword strike.
Slashing all tangible things!
Slashing all intangible things!
In the instant the demons were shocked, he suddenly raised his blade technique. Dark light flickered, producing a piercing sound, as though it had suddenly transformed into a strange demonic weapon that seized the soul.
The first style of the Seven Styles of Divine Extinction!
Heart Shatter!
Splurt, splurt, splurt...
The blade technique flashed past, immediately dealing with the stunned demons.
Outside.
An immense pressure still blanketed the surroundings.
That terrifying consciousness was like a supreme demon god, coldly watching them.
"The time for one incense stick has passed. Will you agree or not?"
Everyone remained silent.
No one answered.
Suddenly, mysterious ripples rolled through the high sky.
A human expert fighting within the secret realm was swept out by a mysterious force. It was Shi Potian of the Ancient Clans.
His expression changed drastically. Looking around, he hurriedly struggled with all his strength.
But his body was like an egg, exploding in midair with a scream. Only a golden body remained.
"No!"
The Shi Clan members below cried out in panic.
"I have no time to waste. With every breath that passes, I will kill one genius, until every last one has been slaughtered."
The icy voice continued.
"We agree! Our Shi Clan agrees!"
"Hurry and agree! What are you still waiting for?"
"Agree already!"
The Shi Clan members hurriedly looked anxiously at everyone.
"Do you truly wish to drag this out with me?" That icy voice spoke again.
Splash!
Another Ancient Clan prodigy from within the secret realm was instantly swept out. He was not one of the eight on the list, but he too was a rare talent, having reached the Golden Body Realm just after turning forty-five.
His face was filled with shock. The moment he emerged, he let out a miserable scream. With a bang, he suddenly shattered, leaving behind only a golden body.
"We agree as well..."
"Agreed..."
His family immediately cried out desperately, throwing caution to the wind.
The remaining people no longer dared to hold out and began shouting their agreement as well.
Even Dugu Wudi agreed at once.
At a time like this, he did not need to think about what mattered more.
Nothing could compare to Lu Chen's life.
"Very good. I have a list here. Go and release those on it immediately. Once I see them come out, I will release your people."
The Demon King said coldly in a hoarse voice.
A mysterious list drifted down from midair and landed on the ground.
"But remember, you only have half a day. If I cannot sense their auras within half a day, I will keep killing."
The icy voice spoke again.
Everyone's hearts churned as they looked toward the list on the ground.
There were three names on the list.
They were the three strongest Demon Kings from back then.
One was in the Sky Sword Sect.
One was in the Golden Light Temple.
And the other was located at... the ninth level of the Imperial City's Heavenly Prison...
When Lu Chen had cleared out the Heavenly Prison, Li Cangjian had once mentioned it to him.
The first eight levels of the Heavenly Prison held people.
The ninth level held a bronze coffin.
Inside that bronze coffin was a Demon King.
But this Demon King had not been sealed by the Great Yu Dynasty. Its origins stretched far back, having been sealed for thousands of years. The Great Yu Dynasty had merely reinforced the seal upon the foundations left by the previous dynasties.
Looking at the list now, Zhao Xuantian felt his heart pound wildly.
The heavens were truly about to change...
Was there really no one who could change all this?
Before you continue