At the border of the Purple Cloud Domain, a defensive line stretched for thousands of miles opposite the Vast Wild Domain.
Dozens of Border-Guard Fortresses, large and small, linked together to form it.
Each fortress stood on ground that was easy to defend and hard to attack. Its walls were cast from a mixture of Heavenly Astral Stone and Darksteel Essence Sand, their surfaces covered in dense defensive array patterns.
Atop the walls,
an Arrow Tower stood every hundred zhang, each fitted with a massive Formation-Breaking Ballista.
The bolts had specially crafted heads designed to pierce the Demon Race's protective demonic aura.
There were also treasures such as Immortal Crystal Cannons, far more powerful but far more costly to fire...
At that moment, the blazing sun hung overhead.
The demonic aura drifting from the Vast Wild Domain grew thicker by the day, like a heavy bank of storm clouds pressing down on the border.
The wind carried the Demon Race's distinctive rank stench, mixed with dust and rust, gusting through the gorge in wave after wave.
The oppressive weight in the air grew heavier each day. Even the Human Race soldiers patrolling the walls tightened their grips on their weapons without thinking.
The First Border-Guard Fortress was the central hub of the Purple Cloud Domain's entire defensive line.
Its walls were the tallest and thickest, its arrays the strongest and most densely layered.
At that moment,
deep within the fortress, in a spacious stone chamber,
Purple Firmament Heavenly Lord sat cross-legged on a bluestone cushion, eyes nearly closed, breathing slow and steady.
Soundproofing array patterns covered all four walls, shutting out every trace of noise from outside.
Only a spirit lamp in the corner gave off a faint hum, casting dim, gentle light.
His purple battle robe rose and fell