Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, inside Zixiao Palace.
Hongjun, seated cross-legged in the seat of honor, suddenly opened his eyes and looked toward the Primordial World. "Luo Hou, you've finally shown your cloven hoof!" he said calmly.
With that, he rose and entered the Primordial World.
Deep within the Huai River.
Ao Yue said nothing in response to the general beside him. He sensed the condition of the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals who had accompanied him and discovered that, of the three hundred thousand, over seventy thousand had already fallen to demonic corruption. That number... damn it!
"The Devil Ancestor may still be alive. Withdraw the army now, immediately! Hurry!" Ao Yue ordered with a sweep of his hand.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The general who had asked the question trembled inwardly at Ao Yue's answer and command. Still, he suppressed his tangled emotions and bowed with clasped hands in acknowledgment. Bi'an beside him did the same.
Soon, the heavenly drums sounded, conveying the Heavenly Sovereign's order to withdraw.
"Roar!" As the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals untouched by demonic thoughts began retreating, Ao Yue threw back his head and let out a dragon's roar. Then he transformed into a divine dragon ten thousand zhang long and swam along the riverbed, radiating dazzling divine light to dispel the demonic thoughts.
Deep within the Demon Realm.
"Oh? Buying time for those ants? What a dutiful Heavenly Sovereign. That bear would probably have fled on his own long ago." Watching Ao Yue, Luo Hou chuckled. Then he lifted a finger slightly and said, "But I already have enough. There's no harm in letting the remaining ants go!"
Whoosh! As his words fell, the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in the Huai River who had already succumbed to demonic corruption immediately swam outward. They seemed