Chapter 27

However, the bull demon showed no intention of stopping and charged straight toward the patrol. The Early Taiyi Golden Immortal captain at the lead shouted sternly, "Stop! Otherwise, we will take action!" As he spoke, he poured his mana into the sword-shaped spirit treasure in his hand. Its radiance blazed brightly, and its aura was astonishing.

From afar, Li Peng could clearly sense the power of this move. Even if he took it head-on, it would not harm him in the slightest. But he was currently playing the part of a minor demon at the Early Taiyi Golden Immortal stage. How could he dare become enemies with the Loose Immortal Alliance?

The bull demon hurriedly stopped and cried out in panic, "Quickly report this to the Alliance Leader! The demon army is heading this way, and their target is most likely our Loose Immortal Alliance!"

All the patrol members changed expression upon hearing this. Then, with grim faces and murderous looks, they questioned him, "How did you learn of such confidential information?"

"Confidential? The demon race has already approached the East Sea. Other than the Dragon Clan, the only force in the East Sea worth such a massive mobilization is our Loose Immortal Alliance!" Li Peng, transformed into a bull demon, explained urgently.

Upon hearing this, all the patrol members' faces darkened.

The patrol captain had no doubts about why the bull demon before him cared about the Loose Immortal Alliance.

After all, "demon race" was merely a label forcibly imposed by Di Jun and Tai Yi. Many races had no idea what was happening before they were lumped into the demon race.

Moreover, the Loose Immortal Alliance also had quite a few demon race members!

Thus, none of the patrol members doubted the truth of Li Peng's words simply because he had transformed into a bull demon.

Seeing that they were still standing there in a daze, Li Peng's bull demon hurriedly urged, "Quickly report this to the Alliance Leader! Ask him to prepare in advance!"

Hearing the urgency in his tone, the patrol captain immediately said, "Take this brother into the island to rest first. I'll report to the Alliance Leader at once!"

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

After he left, one of the patrol members led Li Peng's bull demon into the island.

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

"This lowly one understands!" Li Peng hurriedly nodded.

Seeing how sensible he was, the patrol member nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.

Inside the main hall of the Loose Immortal Alliance.

King Father of the East sat at the head of the hall, expounding the Dao to the alliance's upper echelon below.

Suddenly, a Daoist attendant hurried into the hall.

He looked at King Father of the East, who was in the middle of his sermon, then thought of what the patrol captain had reported. In the end, he gritted his teeth and interrupted, "Master! A patrol captain is waiting at the entrance, saying he has an urgent matter to report!"

The moment the Daoist attendant finished speaking, all the higher-ups in the hall cast displeased looks his way.

Clearly, having their Dao lecture interrupted made them quite unhappy.

King Father of the East also opened his eyes and said with slight impatience, "Let him in. I want to see what matter could be so urgent."

As though pardoned, the Daoist attendant hurriedly replied, "Yes!"

He then quickly left the hall.

Before long, the patrol captain entered.

"What urgent matter do you have to report?" King Father of the East asked impatiently.

"Alliance Leader! We have just received word that the demon race has led a large army into the East Sea. This subordinate suspects their target is our Loose Immortal Alliance, so I came to report at once!" the patrol captain said through gritted teeth.

King Father of the East was taken aback upon hearing this. Then, somewhat disbelievingly, he said, "We have always kept out of each other's way with the demon race. Why would they suddenly attack the Loose Immortal Alliance?"

The Loose Immortal Alliance higher-ups present all echoed King Father of the East's words.

"That's impossible! We have always lived freely and have never provoked the demon race. Why would they come attack us?"

"That's right. The patrol captain must be overthinking things."

"Young people these days love making a mountain out of a molehill. They hear the slightest rumor and come running here to show off!"

The patrol captain's legs went weak with fright. If his guess was wrong, he would be finished. After all, he had interrupted the enlightenment of most of the Loose Immortal Alliance's upper echelon. Such consequences were not something a mere patrol captain like him could bear.

Suddenly, King Father of the East waved a hand and said, "Whether it is true or false, I will know after making a calculation."

As King Father of the East spoke, the alliance's higher-ups stopped criticizing the patrol captain.

A moment later, King Father of the East opened his eyes, which were filled with solemnity. He had clearly calculated something.

"I have just calculated that Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi have indeed led an army into the East Sea. Rather than attacking the Dragon Clan, they are heading straight for Loose Immortal Island. It seems they have ill intentions," King Father of the East said gravely.

"How is that possible? Why is the demon race targeting us? We have never had any conflict with them!" one alliance higher-up exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yes, we have never held any grudge against the demon race. Why would they launch a campaign against us?" another higher-up asked in surprise.

"Could living freely and unrestrainedly also bring disaster upon us? The demon race is far too tyrannical!" yet another higher-up said indignantly.

For a moment, the hall grew noisy as everyone spoke at once, voicing their dissatisfaction with the demon race.

King Father of the East frowned, coughed lightly, and said calmly, "Enough. Stop arguing."

Everyone immediately fell silent and waited quietly for King Father of the East to speak.

King Father of the East swept his gaze around the hall before finally settling it on a middle-aged Daoist.

"Fellow Daoist Fengyun, why do you think the demon race has come to attack our Loose Immortal Alliance?" King Father of the East asked.

Daoist Fengyun smiled calmly. "It is perfectly normal for the demon race to attack us. There is nothing surprising about it."

The moment he said this, all the Loose Immortal Alliance higher-ups present, including King Father of the East, looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" King Father of the East pressed.

"Our Alliance Leader, King Father of the East, was personally appointed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun as the Head of Male Immortals. In name, he governs all male immortals of the primordial world."

Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi of the demon race intend to dominate the primordial world, so naturally they would not tolerate a Head of Male Immortals above them.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the demon race wishes to eliminate our Loose Immortal Alliance," Daoist Fengyun said calmly.

As his words fell, all the Loose Immortal Alliance higher-ups in the hall nodded in agreement.

"As expected of the alliance's strategist. His insight is truly far-reaching!"

"After hearing the strategist's words, I immediately understand the demon race's motives."

"The strategist is indeed brilliant. He has exposed the crux of the matter in a single sentence."

Everyone praised him in succession.

After a moment, King Father of the East could not help asking,

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

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

"But our strength is still inferior to that of the demon race. Is there no other way to resolve this?" King Father of the East asked solemnly.

"If you are unwilling to fight, you may disband the Loose Immortal Alliance and swear to the Heavenly Dao that you will relinquish the title of Head of Male Immortals. Then Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi may spare us," Daoist Fengyun said in the same calm tone.

King Father of the East immediately fell silent.

If he truly disbanded the alliance and gave up the title, he would be nothing more than an ordinary quasi-sage in the primordial world.

Not to mention Di Jun and Tai Yi, even the races and great powers he had once oppressed would never spare him.

Therefore, King Father of the East could never back down.

"Everyone!" he declared passionately. "Since the demon race refuses to leave us a path to survival, we have no choice but to fight to the death! Issue the order at once—summon all Loose Immortal Alliance members back to Loose Immortal Island. We will fight the demon race to the death here!"

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

The higher-ups in the hall responded in unison, their momentum soaring.

However, though they said so, whether they were truly willing to risk their lives against the demon race remained uncertain.

The Great War Begins

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

Li Peng also used those hundred years to thoroughly familiarize himself with the island's layout.

Although he had been unable to enter certain places protected by powerful formations and restrictions, he knew full well that those had to be places where precious treasures were stored.

If they did not contain rare treasures, why would such strict formations and restrictions be set up?

One day, Li Peng was cultivating in his room when the sound of war drums suddenly rang in his ears.

Immediately afterward, two voices came from afar—

"King Father of the East! I am Bai Ze, one of the Heavenly Court's Ten Great Demon Marshals.

"You have imprisoned members of my demon race without cause. Today, you must give my race an explanation, or war will begin!"

Li Peng could not help thinking, Bai Ze's excuse is far too casual. Anyone with eyes can tell this is deliberate provocation.

But he soon sensed that something was wrong. Bai Ze was the demon race's strategist—how could he use such a clumsy reason?

He pondered for a moment before suddenly understanding.

Bai Ze wanted everyone to see that this was merely a casually invented excuse. If they followed his words, they would be admitting the accusation; if they refused, he could still use it as a reason to start the war.

It looked tyrannical, but in truth, it was a warning to all sides.

It seems the demon race's power will rise greatly again after they wipe out the Loose Immortal Alliance, Li Peng thought.

Just then, an angry voice rang out.

"Bai Ze, stop your nonsense! If you want to fight, then fight! Do you think I, King Father of the East, would fear your demon race?"

King Father of the East had clearly been enraged. As one of the primordial world's top great powers, on the same level as Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi, how could he allow one of their subordinates to be so arrogant?

Since he had already resolved to fight the demon race to the death, there was even less reason to retreat.

Bai Ze was slightly stunned upon hearing this. He had not expected King Father of the East to be so forceful, saving him the effort of further provocation.

Thus, he shouted, "I, Bai Ze, am here! Who dares fight me?"

Li Peng could no longer restrain himself. With a flash, he appeared among the forces outside Loose Immortal Island and observed the battle.

Outside the island, the forces of the Loose Immortal Alliance and the demon race stretched densely across the horizon, covering the sky and earth in a vast and imposing display.

The magnificent sight left Li Peng momentarily stunned.

Damn! The assault on the Loose Immortal Alliance is already this grand. How spectacular must the Witch-Demon Great War be? Li Peng wondered inwardly.

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

Li Peng looked up and discovered that he was actually an acquaintance.

This man was one of the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao. He had joined King Father of the East after Hongjun's second Dao lecture ended, but Li Peng truly could not remember his name.

After all, Li Peng had no interest in wasting his thoughts on such weaklings.

If cultivators did not possess such powerful memories, he probably would not have remembered this man at all.

The middle-aged man turned into a streak of light and shot straight toward Bai Ze.

In an instant, he had arrived before Bai Ze.

Seeing him approach, Bai Ze shouted, "State your name! Your grandfather Bai Ze does not kill nameless nobodies!"

The middle-aged man's face immediately darkened.

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

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

"You? You want to kill me? You truly do not know the difference between life and death!" Bai Ze retorted without yielding, his tone full of disdain.

Watching the two trade barbs, Li Peng felt utterly speechless.

He truly could not understand why fights in the primordial world required so much pointless chatter. Shouldn't they just start fighting directly?

What exactly were these two doing?

While Li Peng complained inwardly, the two finally made their move.

The middle-aged man drew a long sword that gleamed with cold light. Judging by its aura, it was merely an Innate Middle-Grade Spirit Treasure.

Bai Ze, on the other hand, took out a long spear. It too gleamed with cold light and exuded overwhelming might. Yet judging by the fluctuations it emitted, it was a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

It seems the demon race's foundation is much deeper than the Loose Immortal Alliance's. The gap in their spirit treasures alone makes that obvious, Li Peng thought.

While he was distracted, the middle-aged man and Bai Ze had already begun clashing fiercely.

The middle-aged man was at the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, one minor realm above Bai Ze, but Bai Ze's spirit treasure was one grade higher than his opponent's.

Thus, the two fought back and forth evenly, neither able to gain the upper hand.

Three days and three nights passed. Watching the two still fighting fiercely, Li Peng found it unbearably dull. At this rate, when will this ever end?

Suddenly, his eyes shifted, and a plan came to mind.

Seizing the right 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 froze in place, unable to move.

He immediately circulated his mana, trying to break free from the Immobilization Technique's restraints.

But just as he was about to break free, the middle-aged man's sword had already slashed down upon his chest.