The autumn wind howled as it swept across the rolling wilderness, scattering fragments of withered yellow grass and leaves.
In the distance, the mountains crouched like an ancient giant beast, their ridgelines stark and cold beneath the gray sky.
Demon Emperor Juechen urged his mount closer, then looked toward the dark-robed figure before him and lowered his voice.
"My emperor, we're approaching Qingwu territory."
At that, the girl merely turned her cheek slightly.
But even this small response made Demon Emperor Juechen hurry to explain, "By rights, when our army reached this point, Demon Emperor of Mang Mountain should have received word long ago."
He sounded somewhat perplexed.
"But even now, not a single demon has appeared in Qingwu Mountain territory to stop us or scout our forces."
"Perhaps they also want to see what my emperor has in mind."
Demon Emperor Juechen chose his words carefully as he laid out his conjecture.
"After all, no matter how ignorant and reckless an outsider might be, once they hear of the Chief Seat of the Daoist lineage, they should know enough to behave themselves for a while."
"And someone like my emperor..."
He furtively glanced up at the girl's calm profile, then swallowed the rest of his words.
To swagger in like this, leading thousands of demons from Wanchuan to the very gates of Qingwu.
Even if it was plainly a challenge to fight the Qingwu lineage to the death.
No one who saw this could believe that was truly all there was to it.
Even he, her newly appointed closest confidant, still harbored doubts deep down. He could scarcely believe what the new emperor had told him.
Jiang Yuechu turned back indifferently and said, "So?"
"So..."
Demon Emperor Juechen hadn't finished speaking.
So, without warning, two figures appeared on the