Four Great Demon Emissaries

The celestial light Cang Xuan Mountain had not yet dissipated; its warm glow still gently swirled among the clouds, like a silken veil of scattered gold, slowly brushing against the newly healed rocks and vegetation—the tips of newly sprouted spiritual herbs in the crevices of the rocks were adorned with glistening white dewdrops, shimmering faintly in the celestial light; pale green new branches emerged from the charred tree trunks, and even the air was filled with a faint, sweet fragrance of Spiritual Qi. But in this brief, almost luxurious tranquility, the sky suddenly darkened—not with the oppressive gloom of dark clouds obscuring the sun, but with four thick, ink-black Demonic Clouds sweeping in from the east, south, west, and north, each accompanied by a pungent, foul wind.

As the Demonic Clouds churned, the black mist stretched and coiled like living tentacles. Wherever it passed, the originally pale golden Immortal Tribulation Cloud melted away like snowballs in flames, leaving not a trace of moisture. The sunlight piercing through the clouds was tinged with a dark purplish-black, and when it fell on the ground, it carried a biting chill. When it landed on the cultivators' robes, it even left fine black spots on the fabric, as if even the light itself was being corroded by demonic energy. The mountain wind suddenly changed; the originally Spiritual Qi breeze became foul and biting, cutting like knives on the face. Many low-level cultivators instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes, but their palms were covered with fine black Demonic Dust, instantly causing a burning pain.

The Spiritual Qi in the air instantly became murky. The originally fresh and sweet scent was replaced by a strong stench of sulfur and rotting corpses. Taking a breath made one's throat churn, and one's spiritual energy felt sluggish. The spiritual herbs that had just revived at the Foot of the Mountain withered again. The luster on the leaves faded at a visible speed, turning from tender green to grayish-yellow. This time, even the roots buried deep in the soil emitted a black aura, as if their life force had been strangled by an invisible hand. They broke in two with a gentle pull, and black sap seeped from the broken surfaces, completely losing any possibility of revival. The remaining immortal light in the cracks of the rocks was gradually devoured by demonic energy. The originally luminous white stones became gray and rough, crumbling into powder with a light touch. It was as if even the foundation of the mountain was being Demonic Qi Erosion, and the entire Cang Xuan Mountain was silently groaning.

"Tianyan Continent, listen up—" A chilling voice suddenly pierced through the Demonic Clouds, like ancient ice scraping against rusty iron. Each word carried an overwhelming pressure, echoing across the hundred miles around Cang Xuan Mountain. Foundation Establishment Cultivator levels turned deathly pale, their hands gripping their magical artifacts trembling uncontrollably, their legs so weak they could barely stand, and their spiritual energy surging wildly like a startled rabbit. Even Golden Core cultivators couldn't help but tighten their grip on their artifacts, their knuckles turning white, their spiritual energy instinctively... A surge of consciousness welled up within him, forming a faint barrier of spiritual light that attempted to resist the oppressive force emanating from the Demon Realm—a force that made even the soul tremble. "I am the ' Ghost Bone Demon Emissary ' under the Demon Venerable's command. Beside me are the ' Soul Devouring Demon Emissary,' the ' Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary,' and the ' Void Splitting Demon Emissary!' The Space Barrier of your continent has been breached. Mortal Realm cultivators are nothing but ants before the Demon Realm's army. If you immediately lay down your resistance and offer up the Soul Pill and Spirit Vein of all cultivators, the Demon Venerable might, out of consideration for your wisdom, grant you Mortals a place to live. Otherwise—"

Before the words were finished, the Soul Devouring Demon Envoy standing to the left of the Ghost Bone Demon Emissary Soul Devouring Demon Emissary raised his hand. It was a withered, bluish-black hand with protruding finger bones and black grime clogging his fingernails. Dark purple demonic energy emanated from the palm, and he grabbed at the "Fallen Cloud Peak" on the west side of Cang Xuan Mountain. In an instant, the mountain, which was about a thousand feet high and shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, trembled violently. Countless spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the mountain's surface, and a mournful echo came from the cracks—it was the remnant souls of the low-level cultivators who had taken refuge in the mountain caves and failed to evacuate in time. Their remnant souls were forcibly pulled from their already cold bodies by the demonic energy, turning into pale blue phantoms that swirled and struggled in the air like fallen leaves caught in a gale, emitting silent wails. Finally, they converged into a stream of souls as thick as a bucket, which was instantly swallowed by the Black Vortex in the Soul Devouring Demon Emissary's palm.

The moment the soul was devoured, the Soul Devouring Demon Emissary let out a satisfied sigh, a strange flush appearing on his withered cheeks. Meanwhile, Fallen Cloud Peak, having lost the dual support of soul and Spiritual Qi, collapsed with a deafening roar. The thunderous sound shook even Cang Xuan Mountain, and the sea of clouds surged with towering waves. Debris, carrying Black Demonic Qi, rained down on the foot of the mountain like a storm. Trees along the way were broken by the falling rocks and corrupted by the demonic energy; the once lush forests were instantly reduced to scorched earth, leaving not a trace of green, and not a single mournful cry of birds or beasts could be heard—clearly, the creatures of the mountain had already been devoured by the demonic energy, even their bones corroded into black powder, completely vanishing from the world.

"This is the consequence of resistance." The Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary's voice carried an eerie sweetness, like honey coated with deadly poison, yet it sent chills down the spines of the cultivators who heard it, making their hair stand on end. His voice seemed to possess some kind of Demonic Power, drilling into their ears and making them unable to resist the thought that "surrender is no bad either." Many cultivators with wavering wills began to have unfocused eyes. "If you, the high-ranking members of your various forces, know what is good for you, you can come to the main peak of Cang Xuan Mountain within an hour, sign a surrender document with us, and offer up the core of your sect's Spirit Vein and the Soul Pill of your elders, and we will stop the massacre; if you remain obstinate, within three days, all ten cities of the Tianyan Continent, from the most prosperous ' Azure Cloud City ' to the most fortified ' Blackstone City,' will be reduced to ruins. The people in the cities, regardless of age, will become food for our demonic army, and even their remnant souls will not be able to escape!"

The news of the demon envoy's arrival spread like wildfire across every corner of the Tianyan Continent via sound transmission talismans. The market in Azure Cloud City instantly became deserted; vendors frantically packed up their stalls, not even bothering to pick up coins dropped on the ground. The garrison of Blackstone City hastily closed its heavy Mysterious Iron gates and activated its ancestral "Demon-Suppressing Defensive Formation" to its maximum. The array's patterns glowed with a faint white light, yet it appeared exceptionally fragile under the suppression of demonic energy. Villagers in remote areas carried bags filled with dry rations, leading the elderly and children... Fleeing towards Cang Xuan Mountain, rumored to be "protected by immortal masters," the dirt road beneath their feet kicked up clouds of dust, mingling with the Demonic Dust in the air, covering everyone's faces with a layer of grime. Half an hour later, the high-ranking officials of various forces arrived at the Cang Xuan Mountain council hall. Some rode Flying Sword that shimmered with spiritual light, while others boarded spirit boats carved with their sect's Totems. Their faces all wore expressions of undisguised solemnity and anxiety. Even the Qingyun Sect cultivators, who were usually most particular about their demeanor, had dust and bits of grass stuck to the hem of their robes from their journey.

The council hall was a temporary structure built from ancient timber, spacious yet rudimentary, with splinters still visible on the roof. It was currently packed with people: Master Xuan Zhen, the Sect Master the Qingyun Sect, dressed in a faded blue Daoist robe, holding a whisk with white bristles stained with black energy, his brows furrowed in a deep frown; Li Mo, the valley master of Danxia Valley, clad in dark red armor, still bearing the black corrosion marks from his previous battle with demonic energy, the edges of the armor plates slightly curled; Tie Mule, the leader of the "Snow Wolf Tribe" of the Far North Ice Plains, a burly man... Wu De was as tall as an iron tower, wearing animal hide armor inlaid with beast teeth, with a curved sword inlaid with snow-white wolf bones hanging at his waist, exuding a chilling aura like the cold wind of an icy plain; Hai Tongtian, the Alliance Leader the East Sea Rogue Cultivator Alliance, wore a blue brocade robe embroidered with wave patterns, playing with a shimmering pearl in his hand, but the trembling of his fingertips betrayed his tension, and his eyes were unusually serious; there were also dozens of sect leaders and elders from small and medium-sized sects, some sitting and some standing, some leaning against wooden pillars wiping sweat, some pacing with their hands behind their backs, their expressions varied.

The candlelight in the hall flickered, its orange flames tinged with a faint black aura, cast shadows that made everyone's faces alternate between pale and blue, like ghosts. Li Mo's hands were clenched tightly, his knuckles white, his gaze fixed on the cracks in the wooden planks of the floor, yet he remained silent. Danxia Valley had just been attacked by demonic energy last month, with more than half of its disciples killed or wounded, most of its treasured spiritual herbs and Pills contaminated by the demonic energy, and its Spirit Vein severely damaged. He feared that continuing to resist would lead to the complete annihilation of the sect, severing its century-old heritage, yet he was unwilling to bow to the evil spirits and let the blood of the disciples who died in the valley be shed in vain. Tie Mule sat in the corner. On the stone bench, his imposing figure pressed down, causing it to creak slightly. The scimitar with animal bone at his waist trembled incessantly, the snow wolf pattern on its scabbard gleaming coldly. His rough fingers repeatedly rubbed the wolf bone on the hilt, the calluses on his fingertips rubbing against the bone, producing a soft sound. He was clearly suppressing his anger, but refrained from acting due to the lack of consensus among the various factions. Meanwhile, Master Xuan Zhen closed his eyes, his fingers rapidly forming hand seals, seemingly using the Qingyun Sect's "Innate Divination Art" to calculate the pros and cons of resistance versus surrender. The tassels of his whisk swayed gently with the slightest movement of his fingertips, yet he could not deduce even the slightest chance of survival.

Just then, Elder Wang Yuan of the Qingyun Sect suddenly stood up. He was about fifty years old, with graying hair and a crooked hairpin. His face was covered in cold sweat the size of soybeans, which streamed down his cheeks and soaked the hem of his Daoist robe, clinging tightly to his legs. His voice trembled almost imperceptibly, yet he deliberately raised it, as if trying to persuade the crowd, or perhaps comforting himself. "The strength of the three demon envoys is unfathomable. They could easily destroy Fallen Cloud Peak. We... we are no match for them! The Qingyun Sect currently has three thousand disciples, most of whom are children who haven't even Foundation Establishment. They can't even hold their magic weapons properly. If we fight them head-on, they probably won't last a day! It's better to surrender for now, save the lives of our sect's disciples, and then find a chance to counterattack when we discover the weaknesses of the Demon Realm!"

"Elder Wang is right!" Zhou Tao, the vice Alliance Leader of the East Sea Rogue Cultivator Alliance, immediately echoed. He was slightly overweight, and beads of sweat streamed down his face, soaking his short beard. He wiped them haphazardly, clasped his hands together, and spoke with such urgency that he was almost crying, "As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood! Soul Pill can be reforged, and Spirit Vein can be found again, but if people are gone, everything is over! The Demon Envoy only wants Soul Pill and Spirit Vein. If we offer up a portion—such as those unaffiliated Rogue Cultivator and low-ranking disciples from various sects—they... they don't contribute much to the sects. Sacrificing them can at least save the lives of us high-ranking members and preserve the foundation of the sects!"

A chorus of agreement rose and fell, and more and more leaders of small and medium-sized sects lowered their heads, their eyes filled with fear and resignation. Some leaders sighed, saying that their sects had been operating deep in the mountains for hundreds of years, and had finally reached their current size; they couldn't let it be destroyed in their hands. Some elders muttered under their breath, saying that they had an eighty-year-old mother to care for and children to feed; they couldn't easily throw their lives away. Others, already terrified by the demon envoy's oppressive aura, didn't even dare to think of resisting, only hoping to exchange surrender for a sliver of hope. He even took the initiative to suggest, "Hand over Ren Xiaoyao. He can trigger the Immortal Tribulation, and the Demon Envoy will definitely want his Soul Pill the most. Handing him over might appease the Demon Envoy and spare our lives." The atmosphere in the council hall became so oppressive that it was suffocating. Even breathing had to be done carefully, as if the air itself had solidified into black ice, tilting towards "surrender." Even Li Mo, who had been silent, had a hint of hesitation in his eyes. His fingers unconsciously picked at the corrosion marks on the edge of his armor, and black rust was embedded in his fingernails.

"Enough!" Ren Xiaoyao slammed his hand on the table, shattering the solid wood into dust instantly under the burst of immortal power emanating from his body. Amidst the flying wood chips, a shimmering white immortal light spread like ripples, forcing back the surrounding Black Demonic Qi and slightly easing the oppressive atmosphere. He stood up, his Immortal-Conceiving Light suddenly surging, the surface of his translucent Light Armor gleaming with a blinding golden light, illuminating the faces of everyone in the council hall like the midday sun, and also revealing the cowardice and selfishness on some faces. "The 'life-saving' you speak of means turning all the cultivators of the Tianyan Continent into food for the Demon Realm realm! It means having newborn children have their souls extracted, unable to even cry; it means depriving the elderly of the right to a peaceful burial, their remnants devoured by demonic energy after death; it means turning those disciples and common people who trust and depend on us into bargaining chips for your own survival! What use is such a 'life' that lingers on in vain?"

He tightened his grip on the Creation Spear, a slight hum emanating from its shaft, as if echoing his rage. A faint Silver Light flickered on the "Extinction" rune on the spear. "The Ghost Bone Demon Emissary can destroy a mountain, but I can use my immortal power to protect another city; the Soul Devouring Demon Emissary can devour the remnants of cultivators' souls, but I can use the 'Life' rune's immortal power to protect the souls of even more; the Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary can bewitch people's hearts, but I can use the 'Extinction' rune 'Immortal Power Slash to shatter illusions! If the Demon Realm wants war, then let it be war! Today, if anyone dares to utter the word 'surrender,' don't blame my Creation Spear for its ruthlessness!"

"Ren Xiaoyao, don't be ungrateful!" Wang Yuan was intimidated by Ren Xiaoyao's imposing aura and subconsciously took a half step back, his ankle hitting the wooden stool behind him with a loud thud. However, he was unwilling to give up the idea of surrendering, his face turning purplish-red like a boiled shrimp. His tone was somewhat fierce but actually weak, "If you want to die, don't drag the entire continent down with you! The Demon Envoy just sent me a message saying that as long as we offer up your Soul Pill —after all, you can trigger the Immortal Tribulation, and the quality of your Soul Pill far surpasses that of ordinary people—as long as we hand you over, perhaps they can spare us and let us continue to lead our sects and protect the Tianyan Continent!"

"Pfft—" Before the words were finished, a Silver Light shot out from Ren Xiaoyao's fingertip, its speed astonishing. It left only a faint afterimage as it pierced the air—the power of the "Annihilation" rune of the Creation Spear. The Silver Light instantly pierced Wang Yuan's chest, leaving a gaping hole in his heart. Black Blood gushed from the hole, splashing onto the ground with a sizzling, corrosive sound. The demonic energy and cowardly thoughts within Wang Yuan's body were crushed by the power of the "Annihilation" rune. His eyes widened in disbelief, Black Blood gushing from his mouth. His body slumped to the ground, his expression one of terror even in death, seemingly unable to believe he was truly going to die. His Golden Core core, deprived of spiritual support, shattered by immortal power, turning into a wisp of green smoke and dissipating into the air— Ren Xiaoyao didn't even want the remnant souls of the surrendered faction to remain on this continent, defiling the land beneath his feet.

The council hall fell silent instantly. Everyone was stunned by Ren Xiaoyao's resolute decision, even their breathing became cautious, afraid of saying the wrong thing. You could hear a pin drop. After a moment, Tie Mule suddenly stood up. He was eight feet tall, and when he stood up, he almost touched the beam of the council hall. The beam was shaken by the air he created, and some dust fell. He raised his hand to the beast bone scimitar at his waist. The snow wolf pattern on the scabbard gleamed coldly. His voice, loud as thunder, broke the silence. "Fellow Daoist Ren is right! We men of the Far North Ice Plains have never known the word 'surrender' since birth! The Snow Wolf Tribe now has three thousand warriors, each of whom can Essence Blood, transforming into a ' Snow Wolf Battle Soul.' As long as the sword is there, we are there; if the sword dies, we die! We are willing to lead our tribe's disciples to fight against the demons with Fellow Daoist Ren. Even if we fight to the last man, we will never retreat a single step!"

"My Danxia Valley is also willing to join the war!" Li Mo finally raised his head, his eyes no longer hesitant, only burning with determination. He took out the Danxia Valley's Spirit Vein token from his robes. The token glowed with a warm red spiritual light, engraved with the flame Totems of Danxia Valley. It was given to him by his father before his death, representing the responsibility and inheritance of the entire sect. "Although Danxia Valley only has a thousand disciples left, each one is willing to burn their spiritual power to fight against the demonic energy with ' Danxia Flame '! Danxia Flame can burn away evil spirits. Even if we have to fight to the last disciple and shed our last drop of blood, we will protect the Spirit Vein of Danxia Valley and protect every inch of the Tianyan Continent!"

With the two taking the lead, the other high-ranking members also came to their senses—surrender would only make them nourishment for the Demon Realm, while resistance might offer a glimmer of hope. Moreover, Ren Xiaoyao's decisiveness and strength gave them a glimmer of hope. The Qingyun Sect Master, Xuan Zhen, sighed, opened his eyes, the confusion fading, replaced by unwavering resolve. He took out the Qingyun Sect's treasured magic weapon, the "Azure Cloud Sword." The sword gleamed with a pure azure light, its sharp Sword Qi causing the surrounding air to tremble slightly. Trembling, Hai Tongtian stood up, patting his chest. "The Qingyun Sect swears an oath to live and die with the Tianyan Continent! If the Tianyan Continent perishes, the Qingyun Sect will cease to exist!" His muscles bulged beneath his blue brocade robe, exuding power. "Although the East Sea Rogue Cultivator Alliance is not bound by any sect, it still understands the meaning of 'family and country'! I am willing to lead my Rogue Cultivator disciples to guard the East Sea defense line, preventing demonic energy from encroaching on the islands, preventing the fish and shrimp of the East Sea from becoming demonic food, and preventing the demonic army from launching a surprise attack on the continent from the sea!"

The previously oppressive atmosphere was completely ignited, like dry tinder being lit. Everyone's eyes were focused on Ren Xiaoyao, their eyes filled with trust and determination. Some sect leaders immediately took out their sect's heirlooms— Heart-Protecting Mirror inlaid with Spirit Crystals and a defensive shield engraved with array patterns—saying they would use them to forge magic weapons against demons. Some elders volunteered to immediately return to gather their disciples, reinforce the sect's defensive array, and prepare for battle in advance. Even the leaders of several minor sects who had previously echoed the surrender blushed and walked up to Ren Xiaoyao, clasped their hands in apology, and said they would atone for their sins by leading their sect's disciples to guard the outer defense line of Cang Xuan Mountain and protect their homeland.

Ren Xiaoyao raised his hand and grasped the Creation Spear beside him. The four patterns on the spear—"Life, Annihilation, Devouring, Immortality"—illuminated simultaneously, their colors—emerald green, silver white, deep blue, and golden yellow—interweaving into a Seven-Colored Rosy Clouds radiance. This radiance pierced the roof of the council hall, like a soaring ribbon of light, contrasting sharply with the Demonic Clouds in the sky, as if declaring war on the Demon Realm. He strode outside the council hall, standing atop Cang Xuan Mountain, letting the demonic wind whip his face and flutter his robes. Gazing at the four churning, terrifying Demonic Clouds, his voice boomed like thunder, echoing throughout Cang Xuan Mountain and reaching every corner of the Tianyan Continent via sound transmission talismans, "Listen, Four Demon Envoys! The cultivators of the Tianyan Continent would rather die than surrender! If you want us to surrender, Non-Self, Ren Xiaoyao Death and Dao Annihilation, unless the Spiritual Qi of this continent is completely severed, unless the mountains and rivers are shattered and all life is extinct—otherwise, you will not be allowed to take a single step!"

"You ignorant mortal!" The roar of the Void Splitting Demon Emissary came from the Demonic Clouds, filled with boundless rage. The Demonic Clouds churned violently because of his anger, and the black mist almost solidified, bubbling like boiling asphalt. Twisted demonic shadows could even be vaguely seen emerging from the mist—some were phantoms of Demon Soldiers with missing arms and legs, and others were outlines of Devil Beast with gaping maws, roaring and struggling in the mist, as if they would break through the clouds at any moment and pounce on the mountain peak.

Seeing this, the Ghost Bone Demon Emissary from the eastern Demonic Clouds stretched out his withered arm from the mist. Black Chains were wrapped around his bony hand, with several dark purple skulls hanging from the ends, their eye sockets flickering with Nether-Green Ghost Fire. He suddenly waved his hand, and the chains shot out like venomous snakes, drawing black arcs in the air, aiming straight for the defensive array eye of Cang Xuan Mountain: "Sky-Rending Strike, why waste words with mortals! Break through their defenses first, then refine these arrogant cultivators into living soul puppets one by one!"

Before the words were even finished, the Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary on the south side also moved. A strange pink mist rose from the Demonic Clouds surrounding him, drifting with the wind towards the mountain peak. Wherever it passed, the air became sticky and sweet. Many cultivators, upon smelling the scent, began to lose focus again, their minds filled with the illusion that "giving up resistance would allow them to live peacefully"—some even subconsciously loosened their grip on their magical artifacts, a foolish smile appearing on their lips. The Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary's voice rang out again, even more seductive than before. "Look how painful resistance is... Just lay down your magical artifacts, offer up your Soul Pill, and you can go to the Demon Realm to live a peaceful life, with inexhaustible Spiritual Qi and Lifespan that never ages..."