The Demon Clan's overall strength far exceeded the Human Clan's. Even several of its major clans individually surpassed the Human Clan in strength.
But the Human Clan drew on the strengths of many disciplines, managing to hold its defensive lines through formations, artifact refining, Magic Ship construction, and other means.
If the Demon Clan tried to conquer the Human Clan by force, the endless assaults on fortified positions would cost more than they gained. Powerful races surrounded them in the Spirit World, and any vulnerability exposed while attacking the Human Clan might invite even greater trouble.
Besides, the Demon Clan itself was far from united, resulting in the delicate situation that now existed.
The two sides had fought for many years and accumulated considerable grudges, but in most cases, they still maintained a state of conflict short of an outright rupture.
The recent Swarm crisis in the lower worlds had affected more than just the Human Clan. Situations like that of the Overseas Immortal Mountain had occurred among every race.
Some races had even departed in their entirety to wander the Abyss!
The entire Spirit World had undergone a considerable upheaval.
This was also what had caused the latest escalation in friction between the Human Clan and the Demon Clan.
The entire Spirit World might even begin to reshape its power structure because of this upheaval.
Yet even at a time like this, both sides had initially exercised a degree of restraint.
Body Integration cultivators stayed out to limit the scale, while Void Refinement cultivators only guarded the territories their own side actually controlled.
Divine Transformation cultivators were the main combatants in the Contested Zone—
Much like how some great powers primarily used clubs along their borders.
"We've been through situations like this before. At least in the early stages,