The Return of the Demon Clan

The bull demon, however, showed no intention of stopping and charged straight towards the patrol team. The leading captain, a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, shouted sternly, "Halt! Or we'll take action!" As he spoke, he infused his sword-shaped Spiritual Treasure with magic power, causing it to erupt in brilliant light and an astonishing aura.

From afar, Li Peng could clearly sense the power of this move. Even if he took it head-on, it wouldn't harm him in the slightest. However, he was currently playing the role of a minor demon in the early stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, how could he dare to oppose the Loose Immortal Alliance?

The bull demon hurriedly stopped and exclaimed in panic, "Quickly report to the Alliance Leader! The demon clan army is heading this way, and their target is likely us, the Loose Immortal Alliance!"

Upon hearing this, all the patrol members' expressions changed. They then sternly questioned, "How did you obtain such classified information?"

"Classified? The demon clan is already approaching the East Sea. Within the East Sea, besides the Dragon Clan, only our Loose Immortal Alliance is worth such a massive mobilization!" Li Peng, disguised as a bull demon, explained urgently.

Hearing this, all the patrol members' faces turned grim.

The patrol captain had no reason to doubt why the bull demon before him was loyal to the Loose Immortal Alliance.

This was because "demon clan" was a term forcibly imposed by Di Jun and Tai Yi. Many races were categorized as demons without even understanding why.

What's more, there were quite a few demon clan members within the Loose Immortal Alliance!

Therefore, the patrol team members did not doubt the truthfulness of Li Peng's words due to the identity of the bull demon he had transformed into.

Seeing that they were still stunned in place, the bull demon transformed by Li Peng urged them, "Hurry and report this to the Alliance Leader! Please ask him to prepare early!"

Hearing his anxious tone, the patrol captain immediately said, "You two, take this brother to rest on the island. I'll go report to the Alliance Leader right away!"

With that, the patrol captain hurriedly flew towards the center of the Loose Immortal Island.

After he left, a patrol member led the bull demon transformed by Li Peng into the island.

A moment later, the member brought Li Peng to a small courtyard and instructed, "Don't wander around. The Alliance Leader might summon you for questioning later."

"I understand!" Li Peng nodded quickly.

Seeing his sensible demeanor, the member nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.

In the main hall of the Loose Immortal Alliance.

East King Duke sat at the head seat, preaching the Dao to the assembled high-ranking members of the alliance below.

Suddenly, a young Daoist boy rushed into the hall.

He glanced at East King Duke, who was preaching, then thought of what the patrol captain had reported. He finally gritted his teeth and interrupted, "Master! There's a patrol captain at the entrance who says he has something important to report!"

As soon as the Daoist boy finished speaking, all the high-ranking members in the hall cast displeased glances.

Clearly, being interrupted during their cultivation had displeased them greatly.

East King Duke also opened his eyes and said with slight impatience, "Let him in. I'd like to see what important matter it is."

The Daoist boy, as if granted amnesty, quickly responded, "Yes!"

He then swiftly exited the hall.

Not long after, the patrol captain walked in.

"What important matter do you have to report?" East King Duke asked impatiently.

"Alliance Leader! We just received news that the demon clan has led a large army into the East Sea. I suspect their target is us, the Loose Immortal Alliance! I've come to report this!" the patrol captain said through gritted teeth.

East King Duke was stunned for a moment, then said disbelievingly, "We've always minded our own business, why would they suddenly attack our Loose Immortal Alliance?"

The Loose Immortal Alliance high-ranking members present echoed East King Duke's words:

"This is impossible! We've always lived freely and never provoked the demon clan, why would they attack us?"

"Exactly, the patrol captain is definitely worrying too much."

"Young people these days are so prone to panic and overreact, hearing a rumor and running here to show off!"

The patrol captain's legs went weak with fear. If his guess was wrong, he would be in grave trouble. After all, he had interrupted the enlightenment of most of the Loose Immortal Alliance's high-ranking members, a consequence that a mere patrol captain could not possibly bear.

Suddenly, East King Duke waved his hand and said, "Whether it's true or false, I can find out by divination."

As East King Duke finished speaking, the Loose Immortal Alliance's high-ranking members stopped their accusations against the patrol captain.

A moment later, East King Duke opened his eyes, which were filled with solemnity. He had evidently divined something.

"I just divined that Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi are indeed leading a large army into the East Sea, and they are not attacking the Dragon Clan, but heading straight for our Loose Immortal Island. It seems they come with ill intentions," East King Duke said with a serious expression.

"How is that possible? Why is the demon clan coming for us? We've never had any conflict with them!" a Loose Immortal Alliance high-ranking member exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yes, we have no grievances with the demon clan, why would they want to conquer us?" another high-ranking member also said in surprise.

"Does our carefree existence also bring disaster? The demon clan is simply too overbearing!" another high-ranking member said indignantly.

For a time, the scene became noisy, with everyone chattering amongst themselves, expressing their dissatisfaction with the demon clan.

Seeing this, East King Duke frowned, coughed lightly, and said calmly, "Alright, stop arguing."

Everyone immediately fell silent, quietly awaiting East King Duke's address.

East King Duke scanned the crowd, his gaze finally settling on a middle-aged Daoist.

"Fellow Daoist Fengyun, why do you think the demon clan is attacking our Loose Immortal Alliance this time?" East King Duke asked.

Fellow Daoist Fengyun smiled calmly and said, "The demon clan's attack is normal, nothing to be surprised about."

As soon as he said this, all the Loose Immortal Alliance high-ranking members present, including East King Duke, cast doubtful glances.

"What do you mean by that?" East King Duke pressed.

"Our alliance leader, East King Duke, is personally appointed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun as the Head of Male Immortals, nominally in charge of all male immortals in the Primordial Era."

Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi of the Demon Clan intended to dominate the Primordial Era, and naturally, they were unwilling to have a Head of Male Immortals above them.

"Therefore, it's not surprising that the Demon Clan wants to eradicate our Loose Immortal Alliance," Fellow Daoist Fengyun said calmly.

As his voice fell, all the high-ranking members of the Loose Immortal Alliance in the hall nodded in agreement:

"As expected of the alliance's strategist, your foresight is truly profound!"

"After listening to the strategist's words, I immediately understood the Demon Clan's motives."

"The strategist is indeed brilliant, pinpointing the key issue in one sentence."

Everyone praised him one after another.

A moment later, East King Duke couldn't help but ask:

"Fellow Daoist Fengyun, in your opinion, how should we respond?"

"How to respond? Naturally, we fight," Fellow Daoist Fengyun replied calmly.

"But our strength is still inferior to the Demon Clan. Are there no other ways to resolve this?" East King Duke's expression was solemn.

"If you are unwilling to fight, you can also disband the Loose Immortal Alliance and swear to the Heavenly Dao to renounce the title of Head of Male Immortals. Perhaps then, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi will spare us," Fellow Daoist Fengyun's tone remained calm.

East King Duke fell silent upon hearing this.

If the alliance were truly disbanded and the title renounced, he would be nothing more than an ordinary Quasi-Saint in the Primordial Era.

Let alone Di Jun and Tai Yi, even the races and Great Powers he had once oppressed would never let him go.

Therefore, East King Duke would never back down.

"Everyone!" he declared impassionedly, "Since the Demon Clan gives us no path to survival, we can only fight to the death! Immediately issue an order to gather all members of the Loose Immortal Alliance back to Loose Immortal Island—we will fight the Demon Clan to the death here!"

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

The high-ranking members in the hall responded in unison, their spirits soaring.

However, even though they said so, whether they were truly willing to fight the Demon Clan to the death remained to be seen.

Chapter Eighty-Three: The Great Battle Begins

A hundred years passed in a flash, and most of the Loose Immortal Alliance members within the East Sea had returned to Loose Immortal Island.

Li Peng had also used this century to thoroughly understand the situation on the island.

Although he couldn't enter some places protected by powerful formations and restrictions, he knew clearly that those must be places where precious treasures were kept.

If they didn't contain rare items, why would such strict formations and restrictions be set up?

One day, as Li Peng was cultivating in his room, he suddenly heard the sound of war drums.

Immediately after, two voices came from afar--

"East King Duke! I am Bai Ze, one of the ten great demon marshals of the Heavenly Court.

You have imprisoned our demon clan members without cause. Today, you must give our clan an explanation, or we will go to war!"

Upon hearing this, Li Peng couldn't help but think, "This Bai Ze's excuse is too casual. Anyone with eyes can see it's a deliberate provocation."

But he immediately sensed something was wrong—as the Demon Clan's strategist, how could Bai Ze use such a clumsy reason?

He pondered for a moment and suddenly understood:

Bai Ze wanted people to see that this was a casual excuse. If you went along with his words, you would admit guilt; if you didn't, he would still use it as a reason to start a war.

It seemed overbearing, but in reality, it was meant to deter all sides.

"It seems the Demon Clan's power will greatly increase after they destroy the Loose Immortal Alliance," Li Peng thought to himself.

Just then, an angry voice rang out:

"You little Bai Ze, stop your nonsense! If you want to fight, then fight! How could I, East King Duke, fear your Demon Clan!"

East King Duke was clearly enraged. As a top Great Power in the Primordial Era, on the same level as Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi, how could he tolerate the arrogance of the other party's subordinate?

Since he had already decided to fight the Demon Clan to the death, there was no reason to back down.

Bai Ze was slightly stunned, not expecting East King Duke to be so resolute, saving him the trouble of further provocation.

So he shouted, "I, Bai Ze, am here! Who dares to fight me!"

Li Peng could no longer hold back. He flashed out and appeared among the Loose Immortal Alliance's forces outside Loose Immortal Island, observing the battle.

Outside the island, the troops of the Loose Immortal Alliance and the Demon Clan were densely packed, covering the sky and earth, their momentum immense.

Such a magnificent scene stunned Li Peng for a moment.

"Damn! The scene of attacking the Loose Immortal Alliance is already so grand. If it were the Witch-Demon War, how spectacular would that be?" Li Peng mused to himself.

As he was lost in thought, a middle-aged Daoist flew out from the Loose Immortal Alliance's ranks.

Li Peng looked up and realized it was an acquaintance.

This person was one of the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao. He had defected to East King Duke shortly after the second Preaching of the Dao by Hongjun, but Li Peng couldn't remember his name.

After all, Li Peng wouldn't be so bored as to focus his attention on these weaklings.

If not for cultivators' exceptionally strong memories, he probably wouldn't have remembered this person at all.

The middle-aged man transformed into a stream of light and flew directly towards Bai Ze.

In an instant, he arrived before Bai Ze.

Upon seeing the approaching person, Bai Ze roared, "State your name! Your Grandpa Bai Ze doesn't kill the unknown!"

The middle-aged man's face immediately darkened upon hearing this.

He never expected to be so looked down upon by a demon saint under Di Jun today!

"Today I will take your head and show the world my strength!" the middle-aged man said, brimming with killing intent.

"Just you? You want to kill me? You're simply courting death!" Bai Ze retorted fearlessly, his tone laced with disdain.

Li Peng watched the two bicker back and forth, feeling utterly speechless.

He truly couldn't understand why battles in the Primordial Era involved so much talking; shouldn't they just fight directly?

What were these two even doing?

Just as Li Peng was grumbling to himself, the two combatants finally made their move.

The middle-aged man produced a gleaming longsword. Judging by its aura, it was merely an Innate Middle-Grade Spirit Treasure.

Bai Ze, on the other hand, wielded a long spear, equally radiant and radiating immense power. Judging by the fluctuations emanating from the spear, it was a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

It seems the Demon Clan's foundation is much deeper than the Loose Immortal Alliance's, judging by the difference in spirit treasures alone, Li Peng thought to himself.

While he was lost in thought, the middle-aged man and Bai Ze had already clashed, their weapons clanging noisily.

The middle-aged man was at the peak of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, a level higher than Bai Ze. However, Bai Ze's spirit treasure was a grade higher than his opponent's.

As a result, the two fought back and forth, evenly matched.

Three days and three nights passed. Li Peng watched the two still locked in fierce combat, feeling utterly bored. He thought, If they keep fighting like this, when will it ever end?

Suddenly, his eyes darted, and an idea struck him.

Seizing the opportune moment, just as Bai Ze was about to dodge the middle-aged man's attack, Li Peng secretly cast an Immobilization Technique on him.

In an instant, Bai Ze's body was frozen in place, unable to move.

He immediately circulated his magic power, attempting to break free from the Immobilization Technique's restraint.

But just as he was about to escape, the middle-aged man's sword descended upon his chest.