A Small Move by the Demon Race

Demon Heavenly Court, Lingxiao Palace.

The Nine-Curved Pearl Lamps hanging from the ceiling cast a dim purple glow, stretching the shadows of the Demon Saints inside the hall. The Demon Emperor sat on the throne encircled by Nine-Dragon Coiled Pillars. His dark, dragon-patterned robe fell to the floor, and a faint aura of chaos swirled around him. His golden eyes were deep as an abyss as he looked down at the illusory figure of Demon Saint Ji Meng, who stood below with his head bowed.

"Ji Meng, the Dragon Clan has indeed brought out its Quasi-Sage strength in this battle at Water God Palace." Demon Emperor Di Jun's voice carried an unmistakable authority as it echoed through the vast hall. "Two late-stage Quasi-Sages. It seems the East Sea Dragon Palace hasn't been idle all these years!"

To the left of the hall, Demon Saint Jiu Feng, clad in the Azure Luan Feather Robe, raised her eyes slightly. Her voice rang as clear as striking jade. "Your Majesty is wise. E Yan's Water God Palace was only a small test for us. Though we had long anticipated that the Dragon Clan would act to defend its hegemony over the East Sea, we never expected them to send two Quasi-Sages to guard against such a minor dispute over a river basin. Their level of concern is rather surprising."

Di Jun calmly replied, "Perhaps the Dragon Clan has more than two Quasi-Sages. Who knows how many of the old monsters from the Three Clans War are still alive?"

The hearts of everyone in the hall clenched. More than two?

The Demon Race's main forces were tied down by the Anti-Demon Alliance in the Blood Sea, leaving them unable to send more powerful fighters to the Dragon Clan. They had only meant to probe the Dragon Clan's strength and bring them to heel! Who could have known the Dragon Clan was so good at hiding its strength?

It was as if Di Jun's words had frozen the air inside Lingxiao Palace. Even the dim purple glow of the Nine-Curved Pearl Lamps seemed to have stilled. The Demon Saints exchanged glances, fear hidden in their eyes. The lingering effects of the Three Clans War had yet to fade. Back then, the Dragon Clan had been a hegemon of the Primordial World, with Quasi-Sages as numerous as the carts on a busy road. If such ancient monsters truly had survived to this day, the Demon Race's plan to subdue the Dragon Clan would come at a bloody cost.

"Your Majesty is right." Demon Saint Ying Zhao, clad in black-patterned armor, stepped forward and broke the silence in a low voice. "During the Three Clans War, the Dragon Clan retreated to the East Sea and sealed off the Secret Realms of the Four Seas. No one knows how much of its strength it secretly preserved. Those two Quasi-Sages were merely the tip of the iceberg. If we don't learn the truth now, the Dragon Clan may turn on us one day, and our Demon Race could face disaster."

Demon Saint Jiu Feng furrowed her slender brows. The luan patterns on her robe seemed to ripple. "But the Ancestor Minghe's Anti-Demon Alliance, formed with the other clans in the Blood Sea, has already tied down ninety percent of our forces. If we send more powerful fighters to the East Sea, the Blood Sea front may become unstable."

Di Jun narrowed his golden eyes and lightly tapped the armrest of his throne. The aura of chaos stirred with each tap. "Send Eastern Emperor Taiyi to the Blood Sea with another hundred thousand Demon Soldiers. He must hold the line. As for the East Sea, pull back for now and send people to rescue Ji Meng. We've already tested the Dragon Clan and seen the tip of the iceberg. There's no need to keep probing. Let the Primordial World know what the Dragon Clan is capable of. Others will test them for us."

As soon as he finished speaking, heavy footsteps sounded outside the hall. Demon Saint Qin Yuan, clad in golden armor and carrying the Sky-Rending Halberd, strode in and bowed. "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the army to Water God Palace!"

"Qin Yuan! Your mission is only to rescue Ji Meng. Don't go looking for trouble." Di Jun, wary of Qin Yuan's temperament, made sure to warn him.

"I obey!" Qin Yuan accepted the order, then turned into a streak of azure light and vanished beyond Lingxiao Palace.

Along the coast of the East Sea, a great river surged without pause. Beneath the crash of waves against its banks, there was now a deeper, more imposing sense of the Dragon Clan's might. After the battle at Water God Palace, the Dragon Clan didn't stop advancing when the Demon Race withdrew. Instead, under the pretext of pursuing the remnants, it gradually spread its Sea Clan forces along both banks of the river.

Rows of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, clad in scaled armor, marched across the water, their spears gleaming with a cold light. The water spirits they passed bowed and submitted.

The river gods and water lords who had once relied on the Demon Race or stood apart from it were either subdued by the Dragon Clan and brought under the jurisdiction of the Four Seas, or refused to submit and were routed by the Sea Clan's army, fleeing in disarray.

The Dragon Clan's Profound Origin Water Control Banner displayed its full power, commanding the currents of every tributary. The Sea Clan soldiers moved across the water as if on level ground. In just a few days, they had taken control of a thousand li of territory along the river's upper and lower reaches.

Dragon Clan cultivators also led their aquatic forces into the marshes and lakes surrounding the river, setting up fortified outposts and linking those waters to the river. Step by step, they built a vast network covering the southeastern waters. In a deep pool along the river's middle reaches, the Dragon Clan laid down a Water-Gathering Array, drawing on the East Sea's spiritual leyline to nourish the region.

Just then, a streak of azure light shot across the sky. It was Demon Saint Qin Yuan, sent to rescue Ji Meng. He had transformed into his true form: a giant venomous bee with a wingspan of a hundred zhang. A deadly blue poison glinted on his stinger, and demonic aura radiated from him. As soon as he reached the skies above the river, he sensed the thick Dragon Clan presence below, along with the Sea Clan armies spreading in every direction.

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By then, every faction across the Primordial World had noticed the upheaval in the East Sea.

Deep in the Blood Sea, Ancestor Minghe stood atop the Blood Lotus and listened to his subordinates report on the Dragon Clan. A sinister smile curled his lips. "Demon Emperor Di Jun wanted to test the Dragon Clan, but he never expected them to be so formidable. Good. The Dragon Clan's counterattack will inevitably threaten the Demon Race's interests. The Human Race is on friendly terms with the Dragon Clan, so we can drag them into this as well. I only need to sit back and watch them fight. Once they're at each other's throats, the Anti-Demon Alliance can grow stronger." He immediately ordered the Anti-Demon Alliance to ease its attacks on the Demon Race, keep a close eye on the Dragon Clan, and look for an opportunity to strike.

Atop Western Mount Sumeru, Saint Jieyin and Saint Zhunti stood side by side, gazing at the shifting currents of fortune in the direction of the East Sea. A glint flashed in Saint Zhunti's eyes. "The Dragon Clan has suddenly struck instead of continuing to endure. Could they have some hidden strength to rely on? The currents of fortune in the Primordial World are in turmoil. This is a chance for Western Religion to guide all living beings. The water spirits routed by the Dragon Clan have nowhere to go. We can send people to guide them and take them in as disciples of Western Religion, strengthening our power."

Saint Jieyin pressed his palms together and spoke with compassion. "Mercy, mercy. The Demon Race is powerful, the Anti-Demon Alliance is rising, and an era of chaos is about to begin. We must take compassion as our guiding principle, lead all living beings, and accumulate Merit." He immediately sent several disciples down the mountain to gather the scattered spirits and cultivators from the Demon Race's various battlefields.

At the undersea camp in the East Sea,

Jiang He was discussing the battle at the Water God Palace with Dragon King Ao Guang of the East Sea.

"Your move will probably provoke a counterattack from the Demon Race and draw the attention of many powerful figures across the Primordial World. The Dragon Clan won't blame me for suggesting such a terrible plan, will it?"

To be honest, Jiang He hadn't expected the Demon Race to send Ji Meng in person. They had all been probing one another, but the Demon Race had gone straight to sending a Quasi-Sage. No wonder the Dragon Clan had sent two Quasi-Sages as soon as Jiang He proposed his plan. It seemed they already knew what the Demon Race was like. The older, the wiser—the survivors of the Three Clans War really knew their stuff!

Ao Guang only smiled faintly at Jiang He's words. "Heh. The Dragon Clan and the Human Race are now one. When one prospers, both prosper; when one suffers, both suffer. I trust you didn't make these decisions without reason. Now, tell me your plan."

Seeing that the old Dragon King had put it that way, Jiang He immediately explained, "Everyone knows the Demon Race wants to unify the Primordial World. Its reach into your East Sea this time may well be a test of the Dragon Clan's strength. Once it learns what you're capable of, it may send powerful fighters to ambush the Dragon Clan and forcibly seize your fortune!

"Of course, that's assuming they don't know that our two clans have formed an alliance. But I feel they may have already noticed. The Dragon Clan has been showing up in Human Race territory again and again for years. Those other factions aren't all fools.

"The Anti-Demon Alliance can hold the Demon Race back for now, but that's only because the Demon Race hasn't gotten serious. According to what the Human Race has learned, the Demon Race has secretly arranged a grand formation. It was originally meant to counter the Wu Race's Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Array, but the Wu Race went to the Underworld and stopped playing along.

"So that formation still hasn't been revealed."

"What I want to do is simple: before the two sides go to war, clear out the forces around us. With both sides keeping each other in check, they have limited troops to spare. This is our best opportunity. Once they decide the victor, dealing with them will be much harder."

"Are you not worried that the Blood Sea will sit back and watch if we act?" Ao Guang asked.

"So what if they do? The Blood Sea will definitely sit back and watch!"

"Then how can you still dare to do this?" Ao Guang asked in surprise.

"Do you think Eastern Emperor Taiyi can hold back, even if the Anti-Demon Alliance sits back and watches?" Jiang He replied with a smile.

"Right, Taiyi! With his temper, telling him not to fight is a joke!" Ao Guang said, nodding as he thought of Eastern Emperor Taiyi.

"Besides, I've already spoken with the Wu Race. They'll ally with us when the time comes."

Jiang He's words stunned Ao Guang. He hadn't expected the Human Race's Clan Leader to be so close to the Wu Race—to have secretly formed an alliance with them too!

But what Jiang He said next was even more astonishing.

"Of the Seven Sages of the Primordial World, five are on my side. How could I lose?"

Jiang He said it with a casual air.

"What?"

Ao Guang suddenly sprang to his feet in shock.