Chapter 571

The white-haired, Ashina Sword Saint, wielding a long sword; the colossal, Blasphemous King; the elusive Void Mantis...

Of course, we can't forget the special-grade cursed spirit Sukuna, who has been relegated to a supporting role.

The mirror reflected countless bewildered or horrified faces. As thousands of players unfolded before them, and as the king, still ablaze with embers, took his first step, the defensive lines on the wall crumbled instantly.

We can't win; there's no way we can fight like this.

Yomi Isayama loosened and tightened his grip on the sword; this was on a completely different level, especially with the King of Kindling, a powerful player of Epic Rank IV.

They were already afraid before the battle even began.

The Bronze Tree and its followers had begun to scatter; no, even the Demon Extermination Squad itself had lost its will to fight, but they had nowhere to escape.

Retreating to the Borderlands sounds easy, but like the Aether Particles, hundreds or thousands of players are exiled, and the daily stay fee is astronomical. Once it's exhausted, they will be thrown back immediately.

Is there any hope for a good outcome if I come back?

Yomi saw those hideous demons; falling into their hands was worse than death. She gripped her knife tightly, and a certain person's face flashed through her mind.

Mr. Li, are you really abandoning us?

Disappointment mixed with anger, the girl opened her mouth and the Roar at the oncoming storm.

"Gentlemen! Fight to the death!"

Boom boom boom boom...

Before the words were even finished, the magic bullets, spells, and machine guns exploded midway, with only a few hitting the walls. It was as if a layer of white gauze had been laid out before our eyes, and it was these countless threads that pierced through the bullets.

Looking further up, these white threads converged in one place, revealing a whisk that was released, in which a fat man with a large head and ears held the whisk, trying his best to appear as if he were a Daoist immortal.

"Bullying the weak, you little rascals!" The fat man tore the bullets to shreds with a flick of his wrist, shaking his head and saying, "Let this Daoist priest teach you a lesson!"

Who is this person?

Yomi Isayama was stunned as he watched hundreds of figures emerge from the Tenshukaku, each exuding an intense aura of power. The two leading figures, trailing long flames, soared over the heads of the stunned players and headed straight for the battlefield.

One wore a mask and looked almost insane; the other looked like a child, wielding a flaming spear. Behind them was Satoru Gojo, who had gone to "open the door," constantly wiping sweat from his brow, as if he had been miraculously saved.

Reinforcements have arrived.

They actually came?

At the same moment, from within a speck of black dust, the six Grand Inquisitors rose to their feet, bursting with ecstasy.

It's obvious that no player dares to interfere in this battle. Only Taiyi will not let them have their way. Whether they are passive or active, once they come, they won't be able to leave.

"No, this isn't Taiyi."

A moment later, they realized something was wrong. The three leading players were all at least Epic Rank III, but it couldn't be Taiyi, because they were already famous.

"The Immortal Taiyi from the Classic of Mountains and Seas and Taiyi Zhenren and the Flame Demon Child?"

They saw the chubby man with an air of otherworldly wisdom and the brazen, defiant child; both were renowned players in the Borderlands.

"And that madman from the 'Savior' group." Sephiroth could tell the difference at a glance, and his face was full of question marks. "Why are they involved? Who sent them?"

Even the Grand Judges, who possessed the "Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge," were completely baffled. Players of this level were simply not someone the "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons" could afford, and the intelligence reports hadn't mentioned any interaction between them.

The Mirror of Light was monitoring the battlefield when the Demon Child walked to the front of the line and started cursing at the King of Kindling, saying he would make sure He never returned.

"I remember now, the Classic of Classic of Mountains and Seas and Seas has a grudge against the End World. It seems that a player related to the 'sun' was captured by this group of lunatics and taken back to be burned as firewood." One of the Judge, listening to the conversation, spoke up to remind them.

Yes, that's true.

The high judges rummaged through their memories, unearthing long-ago events from many Borderlands years ago, and their expressions all turned strange.

Does this mean these people don't want any reward, they just happened to have the opportunity to take revenge?

"Impossible! What a coincidence! Besides, the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons has no connection with either of these factions. How could they know the King of Kindling would come?" Solomon was the first to disbelieve, turning to ask, "Aizen, what are your thoughts?"

Everyone looked over, and things suddenly became complicated.

They wanted to force Taiyi out with absolute power, and if He didn't come, they would kill the "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons" chicken. But suddenly a group of people jumped in and interfered, turning the situation into a normal factional war.

Sukuna can ask for outside help, so why can't Satoru Gojo? This is a feud between several factions, and it has nothing to do with them, the Judge. Of course, the participation of epic-level players is breaking the rules, but why don't you make both sides withdraw?

Sōsuke Aizen expressionless, but upon closer inspection, he appeared somewhat troubled, clearly not having anticipated this, or rather, it was impossible for him to have thought of it.

They had prepared contingency plans for the involvement of Valhalla, War Orphans, and even the Anthropomorphic Front, but they never expected that these two factions would jump out, and that they would deploy top-tier combat forces so readily.

"If I remember correctly, the Classic of Mountains and Seas has never had any contact with Taiyi, right? As for the Savior, according to intelligence, didn't they fight against Taiyi?" Aizen gave a bitter smile; this was a completely unexpected surprise.

"You mean, this has nothing to do with Taiyi?" Solomon narrowed his eyes, waiting for Aizen's answer.

"Of course it's relevant. These two factions aren't fools; they know this isn't an ordinary faction war. Even if the opportunity is rare, they wouldn't dare risk being targeted by us and forcibly intervene." Aizen turned his head, his tone heavy.

"This is not good news. Taiyi has come into contact with far more factions than we know about. Just how much power has He quietly gathered?"

His answer was almost perfect, putting the ball back in his court. The Grand Inquisitors no longer had the energy to question his stance, and just then, the barrier-level artifact covered the battlefield, enveloping the entire Tenshukaku.

The images within hundreds of mirrors all vanished, instantly creating a tense atmosphere.

Actively concealing the battlefield? Has 'Taiyi' infiltrated?

"Activate 'Faction Judgment' to eradicate the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons." Boros couldn't wait any longer; if he had nothing to hide, why would he need to conceal the battlefield?

"Taiyi is incredibly cunning. What if this is just bait?"

"Then eat it."

"No, we have no way of knowing whether 'Taiyi' has arrived. Initiating the Faction Judgment will cause the Borderlands to tremble."

"Kill everyone, so what if He comes?"

"Are you even going to kill those from the End World? Boros, don't forget that these two factions are not weaklings; they'll be a lot of trouble to deal with."

The constant disputes are a downside of 'democracy'. People like Boros don't care; they kill anyone suspected until no one dares to oppose them. But people like Sephiroth are much more rational and care more about the gains after the battle.

Risking their own demise by recklessly wreaking havoc, who will clean up the mess? The number of participating players has surged, and this stage is not one where you can simply silence someone.

"Aizen, what do you suggest?" Solomon didn't want to get involved in this pointless argument; he just felt that familiar feeling had returned.

Choices, endless choices. This is what it's like to be an enemy of 'Taiyi'. Every choice is fine, but it's followed by a constant stream of conspiracies.

Aizen remained silent, equally puzzled. This time, the intensity had truly increased, yet he still managed to outdo Aizen.

Is this some unknown trump card that I'm going to exchange?

He didn't even consider Boros's suggestion. To make an example of someone, this whole affair was under the spotlight, watched by countless factions.

'The End World,' 'Battle Maniac,' 'Classic of Classic of Mountains and Seas,' and 'Savior' are all renowned and powerful factions. They are waging a decisive battle, and the Judge should not and cannot interfere, otherwise it will cause a huge upheaval. Besides, these powerful individuals are not people you can kill at will.

'I somewhat regret helping out in the Aether Particles; the Borderlands has become muddy water, but it can create huge waves.'

Aizen caught in a dilemma. Ignoring it was impossible; the stage was set, and stopping now would be a slap in his own face.

Even if you try to control it, it won't work. Under the spotlight, the audience is there to see if the Judge has the ability to suppress the Borderlands, not to see the Judge beat up the powerful faction.

The discussion quietly subsided. Each Grand Inquisitor possessed wisdom Transcendental Grade, but no matter what choice they made, unpredictable consequences followed. Many had even considered hundreds of possibilities, to the point that their CPUs were practically fried.

"Lord Aizen, the King of Kindling awaits your command."

One of the Judge, forcing a smile, interjected, telling them that their time to think was limited.

The King of Kindling and his group are now in the most awkward position. They agreed to play supporting roles, to force out 'Taiyi' and then give up the stage, and to crush the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons would be a piece of cake.

Now a group of actors of equal strength have barged in, and we can't fight them or retreat from them. We also have to endure that brat's provocative doggerel.

"Attack! Tell Him the reward will be doubled, and there's no need to fight those people to the death." Aizen raised his hand, silencing the doubts of Solomon and the others. "Tear open that veil of stars. Since you know we're here and still dare to come, there's no need to put on an act."

He pulled out a sphere covered with eyeballs, its body resembling teardrops; this was the true form of the 'Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge'.

"Use war to scan every participant, and once 'Taiyi' is discovered, immediately initiate Faction Judgment."

This is the safest option; if 'Taiyi' does indeed arrive, the war can be transformed into a trial.

"What if he doesn't come?" Solomon in a low voice.

Aizen remained silent, a multitude of possibilities flashing through his mind, before finally letting out a sigh.

"I don't know, we'll just have to wait and see what he does first."

The aroma of coffee filled the room. Hayasaka Ai wiped the Death Knell with a handkerchief, while Kaguya Shinomiya gently plucked the bowstring, occasionally glancing up at the man on the sofa.

Yuki was resting his chin on his hand, sipping his coffee, occasionally popping in a cream puff, and sometimes writing in his Future Diary with his Doomsday Golden Pen.

I have to admit, this guy is really calm.

The two exchanged a glance. This was a critical moment. The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons was awash in blood, yet the two, at the heart of the conflict, were sitting here drinking coffee like outsiders.

Didn't he know that what happened next would determine the future? That, whether successful or not, it would all lead to the end?

After peeking back and forth several times, Hayasaka Ai couldn't hold back any longer. "That Elysia must have some serious connections, Classic of Mountains and Seas to take such a big risk."

Is this considered making conversation for no reason?

Yuki glanced at her; the rest of the people were gone. After Kaguya returned, she pulled Hayasaka aside, and as for what she said, he could guess with his own eyes.

They must have been wary of Mebius and Elysia, but alas, they met too late.

"At first I didn't quite understand, after all, I had never been in the 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' faction before." Yuki put down his porcelain cup and interlaced his fingers. "Their risk was huge. If those Judge lost their minds, they would all become scapegoats. But after I found those two players, I felt relieved."

"That Taiyi Zhenren and Demon Child?" Kaguya was even more confused. These two players were quite famous in the Borderlands. Of course, Demon Child, like Kalpas, was more infamous.

"Yes, they, like Elysia, have reasons why they have to go back. As for why they believe me, that's the charm of that pink fairy."

"I've heard that Miss Elysia is incredibly charming, and her 'True Self' power allows her to see through all the illusions of the world," Hayasaka Ai said sourly, her azure eyes filled with vigilance.

You're overthinking it. Anyone who wants to develop a relationship beyond friendship with Elysia is dreaming. True Self Hero loves everyone equally.

Yuki didn't bother to explain. Even though his strength had reached the epic level, the people around him still seemed too ordinary. Some of them were simply incomprehensible.

"There's no way around it, I have to get in touch with Elysia, I don't have time to argue with a bunch of people." Yuki raised a finger, skipped over the topic, and closed his eyes again.

The incomplete Truth's Eye sent back feedback: the six Grand Inquisitors had gathered somewhere at the Borderlands. Although their exact location could not be determined, there was no need to use the process of elimination now.

"They're lying in wait for me in the 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.' Let me guess, this group is searching for every player in the Outpost, every piece of information transmitted outwards, even every speck of dust, thinking I'm hiding somewhere and will jump out to give them a good punch."

Then you drink coffee at home.

Hayasaka Ai and Kaguya Shinomiya couldn't help but smile, experiencing a strange sense of pleasure. However, neither of them spoke, and they even slowed their breathing, afraid of disturbing Yuki's train of thought. They just couldn't help but glance at the diary, blinking as they looked at the few short sentences on it.

[You must be extremely cautious when facing the treacherous and cunning Taiyi, and strive to be flawless.]

The fall of any Grand Inquisitor is unacceptable. Even if we lose this battle, we cannot afford to lose. We must react swiftly, act decisively, consider every possibility, and strive to make the safest choice.

What on earth is this guy writing? Is it a script to buff the Judge?

Hayasaka Ai glanced at Kaguya, both looking bewildered. They knew that the 'Future Diary' couldn't perform actions that caused others to commit suicide or lower their intelligence; it could only use coincidences to interfere with Destiny.

But there's no buff that gives the enemy calmness or survival skills, is there?

Kaguya was about to ask a question when her maid covered her mouth, signaling her to mind her own business; there must be a reason why Yuki wrote it that way.

"It seems they don't know what I stole from 'Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge.' Well, that idiot Reincarnation Game won't explain it to me."

Ignoring the doubts, Yuki muttered to himself, "This skill alone contains many hidden cards, and the one that has been revealed is terrifying enough."

He was able to join the missions alongside the Judge, making the high judges suspicious, as if he were being followed by a tail.

"But more importantly, as 'nothingness,' I usurped some of the authority of the Grand Judge, 'Hundred Eyes of True Knowledge.'"

A new star appeared somewhere on the Borderlands, and this incomplete Truth's Eye, unable to see targets below the level of the Grand Inquisitor, thus eliminated interference at this moment.

Of the 10 Grand Judges, 3 were not in the Borderlands, 6 were lying in ambush during the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, and the remaining one appeared on its own, presumably having just returned from the mission space.

"The time has come."

Yuki opened his eyes; this was the opportunity he had been waiting for. He had long ago obtained the authority to go to the Judgment Domain, but had never tried it before.

The place was completely unknown. Shiki Ryougi spent a huge amount of money but only managed to find a few fragments of information. With several Grand Inquisitors in charge, there was probably no chance of escape. After all, 'Taiyi' could leave regardless of the medium, but to enter, one had to go through the main entrance.

If I went there normally, I'd probably get caught as soon as I walked in.

Hayasaka Ai's breathing suddenly quickened; she knew the whole plan and understood that Yuki was about to do something earth-shattering—

A player rebelling against the Heavenly Gang and causing trouble in the Judge's territory—not to mention whether it's even possible, probably no player would dare to even think about it.

"Is... is everything alright?"

"This move is called 'beating the grass to scare the snake,' it's something we have to do, you'll understand its significance later." The window of opportunity is extremely short, Yuki didn't explain and simply got up.

"You two use the Fool's Mask well, act according to plan, make quick decisions based on my signals, and tell Satoru Gojo that no matter the outcome, I will ensure the safety of his core members. Don't be reluctant to part with those jars and pots."

Yuki reiterated that no one can be certain when faced with the unknown, and all he can do is make different arrangements based on different situations.