The Demon Race's Little Moves

Demon Heavenly Court, Lingxiao Palace.

The Nine-Curved Pearl Lamps hanging from the hall's ceiling cast a faint purple glow, stretching the shadows of the assembled Demon Saints long across the floor. The Demon Emperor sat upon his throne coiled with Nine-Dragon Pillars, his black dragon-patterned brocade robe pooling to the ground, an indistinct aura of chaos swirling around him. His golden eyes, deep and abyssal, looked down upon the illusory projection of Demon Saint Ji Meng, who stood bowing below.

"Ji Meng, in this battle at Water God Palace, the Dragon Clan has indeed revealed their Quasi-Sage foundation," Demon Emperor Di Jun's voice carried an inherent authority that echoed through the vast, empty 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, draped in her Azure Luan Feather Robe, lifted her eyelids slightly. Her voice was crisp, like jade striking stone. "Your Majesty speaks with great insight. The Water God Palace of E Yan was merely a small probe on our part. Though we had already calculated that the Dragon Clan would act to maintain their hegemony over the East Sea, we never expected them to deploy two Quasi-Sages to suppress a mere skirmish over a river territory. Such a level of importance is somewhat unexpected."

Di Jun spoke calmly, "Perhaps the Dragon Clan possesses more than just two Quasi-Sages. Who knows how many old monsters from the Three Tribes War still live?"

The hearts of the demons in the hall tightened sharply. More than two?

Currently, the main force of the Demon Clan was pinned down by the Anti-Demon Alliance at the Blood Sea, leaving them powerless to send more strong experts to the Dragon Clan. This expedition was originally meant to probe the Dragon Clan's depths and subdue them! Who knew the Dragon Clan could hide so much!

The air within Lingxiao Palace seemed to freeze at Di Jun's words; even the purple glow of the Nine-Curved Pearl Lamps appeared to congeal. The Demon Saints exchanged glances, their eyes hiding shock and fear. The lingering might of the Three Tribes War had yet to dissipate. Back then, the Dragon Clan, as the overlords of the Primordial World, had Quasi-Sage experts in abundance. If such ancient monsters truly survived to this day, the Demon Clan's plan to subdue them would likely cost a bloody price.

"Your Majesty speaks the truth," Demon Saint Ying Zhao, clad in black-patterned battle armor, stepped forward, his deep voice breaking the silence. "During the Three Tribes War, the Dragon Clan retreated to the East Sea and sealed the Secret Realms of the Four Seas. No one knows how much of their foundation they preserved in secret. These two Quasi-Sages are merely the tip of the iceberg. If we do not take this opportunity to ascertain their true strength, the day the Dragon Clan retaliates will bring great calamity upon our Demon Clan."

Demon Saint Jiu Feng furrowed her delicate brows, the Luan bird patterns on her feather robe seeming to flow. "But at the Blood Sea, Old Ancestor Minghe's Anti-Demon Alliance, formed from various tribes, has already pinned down ninety percent of our Demon Clan's forces. If we pull more experts to reinforce the East Sea, the Blood Sea defense line may face unforeseen changes."

Di Jun narrowed his golden eyes, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest of his throne, causing the chaotic aura to ripple. "At the Blood Sea, have Eastern Emperor Taiyi lead another hundred thousand Demon Soldiers to reinforce and hold the line. As for the East Sea, we will temporarily pull back. Send someone to rescue Ji Meng. Since we have already glimpsed the tip of the Dragon Clan's iceberg, there is no need to probe further. Announce the Dragon Clan's situation to the entire Primordial World. Naturally, others will probe them for us."

As his words fell, heavy footsteps sounded from outside the hall. Demon Saint Qin Yuan, clad in golden battle armor and wielding the Sky-Rending Halberd, strode in and bowed. "Your Majesty, your subject is willing to lead an army to reinforce Water God Palace!"

"Qin Yuan! Your mission is solely to rescue Ji Meng. Do not create any unnecessary complications." Di Jun, uneasy about Qin Yuan's temperament, gave a specific warning.

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Qin Yuan accepted the order, transformed into a streak of cyan light, and vanished beyond Lingxiao Palace.

At the shores of the East Sea, a great river surged endlessly. The sound of waves crashing against the banks now carried a heavier weight, infused with the oppressive might of dragon majesty. Since the battle at Water God Palace, the Dragon Clan had not halted their advance due to the Demon Clan's retreat. Instead, using the pretext of pursuing the remnants, they had the Sea Clan army slowly spread along both banks of the great river.

Squadrons of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals, clad in scale armor, advanced over the water, their long spears gleaming with a cold, icy light. Wherever they passed, the water spirits and monsters along the way bowed their heads in submission.

Those river gods and water lords who had once been attached to the Demon Clan or remained independent were either subdued by the Dragon Clan and incorporated into the Four Seas' governing system, or, refusing to submit, were routed and scattered by the Sea Clan army.

The power of the Dragon Clan's Profound Origin Water Control Banner was on full display. The currents of the great river's tributaries were all under their control, allowing the Sea Clan soldiers to move as if on flat ground. In just a few short days, they had seized a thousand li of territory along the river's upper and lower reaches.

Dragon Clan cultivators led their aquatic followers deep into the swamps and lakes surrounding the great river, establishing water fortresses and outposts. They connected these waters to the great river, gradually constructing a vast network covering the southeastern waters. In a deep pool at the river's midpoint, the Dragon Clan set up a Water-Gathering Array, drawing the spiritual vein power of the East Sea to nourish the river region.

At that moment, a streak of cyan light shot through the midair. It was Demon Saint Qin Yuan, on his mission to rescue Ji Meng. He had transformed into his true form, a giant venomous wasp with a hundred-zhang wingspan, its stinger flickering with a deep blue poison, its demonic aura fierce and imposing. As soon as he arrived above the great river, he sensed the dense dragon majesty emanating from below and the Sea Clan army expanding everywhere.

Meanwhile, across the Primordial World, all major powers had sensed the disturbance in the East Sea.

Deep within the Blood Sea, Old Ancestor Minghe stood atop his Blood Lotus, listening to his subordinates report the news of the Dragon Clan. A sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth. "Demon Emperor Di Jun wanted to probe the Dragon Clan, but he never expected them to be so formidable. Good. The Dragon Clan's counterattack will inevitably encroach upon the Demon Clan's interests. The Human Race is allied with the Dragon Clan, so they will be dragged into the mire as well. This old man only needs to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. While they battle, the Anti-Demon Alliance can seize the opportunity to grow." He immediately issued orders for the Anti-Demon Alliance to slow their offensive against the Demon Clan and instead focus on monitoring the Dragon Clan's movements, looking for an opening.

On Mount Sumeru in the West, the two Sages, Jieyin and Zhunti, stood side by side, watching the flow of fortune and destiny in the direction of the East Sea. A sharp glint flashed in Sage Zhunti's eyes. "The Dragon Clan's sudden, unrestrained action... could it be they have some hidden confidence? The fortune of the Primordial World is in turmoil. This is a karmic opportunity for our Western Religion to convert sentient beings. Those water spirits and monsters routed by the Dragon Clan are now homeless. We can send people to convert them, take them in as disciples of the Western Religion, and strengthen our sect."

Sage Jieyin pressed his palms together, his expression compassionate. "Excellent, excellent. The Demon Clan is powerful, the Anti-Demon Alliance is rising, and an era of chaos is about to dawn upon the Primordial World. We must act with compassion, convert sentient beings, and accumulate Merit." He immediately dispatched several disciples down the mountain to the Demon Clan's various battlefields to gather the scattered spirit cultivators.

Undersea Camp, East Sea

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

"Now that you've made a move, it will likely provoke a counterattack from the Demon Clan and draw the attention of many Great Experts in the Primordial World. The Dragon Clan won't blame me for this terrible idea, will they?"

To be honest, Jiang He hadn't expected the Demon Clan to send Ji Meng directly. Originally, everyone was just probing each other. Sending a Quasi-Sage right off the bat... No wonder the Dragon Clan dispatched two Quasi-Sages the moment they heard Jiang He's plan. They already knew what the Demon Clan was like. Old ginger is spicier, indeed. No wonder they survived the Three Tribes War!

Ao Guang, hearing Jiang He's words, gave a faint smile. "Heh. Now that the Dragon Clan and the Human Race are one body, sharing glory and loss, I trust you wouldn't make such decisions without reason. Let's hear your plan instead."

Seeing the old Dragon King say this, Jiang He immediately explained to Ao Guang, "Everyone knows the Demon Clan wants to unify the Primordial World. Reaching out to your East Sea now is nothing more than probing the Dragon Clan's foundation. Once they ascertain it, they will likely send experts to raid the Dragon Clan and forcibly seize its fortune!

Of course, they don't know about the alliance between our two clans. But I feel they might have some inkling. After all, the Dragon Clan has been appearing frequently in Human Race territory all these years. Those powers aren't all fools, are they?

The Anti-Demon Alliance can only hold the Demon Clan back now because the Demon Clan hasn't gotten serious. According to intelligence from my Human Race, the Demon Clan has secretly set up a great formation. It was originally meant to counter the Wu Race's Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Array. But then the Wu Race ran off to the Underworld and stopped playing their game!

So that formation hasn't been revealed yet!"

"What I want to do is simple. Before the decisive battle between them, we clear out the powers around us. With them checking each other, the forces they can spare are limited. This is the best time. Once they decide a victor, dealing with them will be exponentially harder."

"Aren't you worried that once we make our move, the Blood Sea will just sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight?" Ao Guang asked.

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

"Then you still dare to do this?" Ao Guang exclaimed in surprise.

"Do you think, given Eastern Emperor Taiyi's temper, he'll be able to hold back even if the Anti-Demon Alliance just watches?" Jiang He said with a smile.

"Ah... Taiyi, indeed. With that dog's temper of his, you telling him not to fight? Dream on!" Ao Guang thought of Eastern Emperor Taiyi and couldn't help but nod.

"Besides, I've already coordinated with the Wu Race this time. At the critical moment, they will form an alliance with us."

Jiang He's words startled Ao Guang. He hadn't expected this Human Race Clan Leader to have such a close relationship with the Wu Race! Secretly forming an alliance with them too!

But the next sentence was even more explosive.

"Of the seven Sages in the Primordial World, five are on my side. How can I possibly lose?"

Jiang He stated this with a casual, arrogant air.

"What?"

Ao Guang suddenly stood up, utterly shocked.