There was no helping it—the two sides in the battle were simply too mismatched.
The Heavenly River Navy could send in reinforcements at any time, while this demon was essentially fighting alone. His companions nearby had either given up resisting or were too busy looking after themselves. Who had time to care about him? If two hundred Heavenly River soldiers could not take him down, they could simply increase the number to three hundred. Surely he could not stand against the entire Heavenly River Navy!
In the end, the battle formation trapped the demon, and the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals surged forward together, beating him into repeated roars of fury.
A junior general found an opening and flew forward, swiftly clamping a Demon Restraining Hoop around the demon!
It was a golden headband, said to have been modeled after one of the three hoops belonging to Guanyin Bodhisattva. No incantation was needed. It activated as soon as it was put on. Anyone wearing the Demon Restraining Hoop could no longer use magic power, and if they tried to forcefully use it, the hoop would continually tighten!
In that respect, it was more intelligent than the Tightening-Crown.
Once the Demon Restraining Hoop was put on, the demon's magic power was sealed. He knew the hoop's reputation, so he did not challenge this proud creation of the Heavenly River Navy. Instead, he struggled with brute force!
This demon possessed tremendous strength. Several hundred Heavenly Soldiers and Generals could barely hold him down!
But in the end, the Heavenly Soldiers still subdued him. After beating him until he was covered in wounds, they did not follow the earlier order to "kill without exception." Instead, they bound him and escorted him toward the transport warships above the clouds!
"Hm?" An Yang asked in confusion,