The war in the Demon Realm worsened with every passing day.
The "blood rain" fell without end.
It was the celestial phenomenon caused by the deaths of countless mighty figures of the Demon Race, much like the golden rain that fell when Immortal Kings died in the Immortal Realm.
Faced with such casualties, even beings as powerful as Demon Sovereigns gradually felt their strength falling short.
Yet throughout this period of fighting, the two Demon Sovereigns Shi Yin and Yu Jiutian appeared less and less often.
At first, they were only occasionally absent. Later, months would pass without either of them being seen.
Had such behavior, little different from deserting in the face of battle, occurred in the Immortal Realm, morale would have collapsed and rumors would have run rampant long ago.
But within the Ten Thousand Radiance Hall, the highest seat of power in the Demon Realm, an eerie silence persisted.
"Those two bastards, Jiutian and Shi Yin, have been getting lazier by the day!"
Covered in blood, Ying Cang gulped down strong liquor as he cursed. "I've been fighting on the front lines until heaven and earth turned dark, while those two aren't even anywhere to be seen!"
Though he cursed them viciously, when another great demon seated below tried to join in, Ying Cang kicked that demon's table over.
"I can curse them. You can't!"
"If they aren't coming, they have their reasons! Wag your tongue again, and I'll sacrifice you to the battle flag first!"
Such was the bond between the nine sovereigns of Ancient Times.
They were as close as brothers and sisters. Even when Shi Yin and Yu Jiutian vanished at the most critical point in the war, not one of them suspected the two of clinging to life out of fear of death.