"There are enough resources here for both of you to cultivate. Find Yan Zhan right now and leave!" As he spoke, the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage flicked a Storage Ring into the Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord's hand.
"Lord Demon Sage, has something serious happened? Why not send someone else and let me stay to help you?" the Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord asked cautiously.
"Staying here would do no good. Only your strength can ensure my grandson Yan Zhan's safety. Say no more. Leave now!"
"Any later, and you won't be able to leave!"
"Yes, Lord Demon Sage. Please take care!" Seeing how urgently the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage was pressing him to leave, the Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord knew the situation might be even worse than he had imagined. He wasted no more time, bowing to the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage before turning to find Yan Zhan.
At that moment, Yan Zhan still had no idea that disaster was looming over him and the Crimson Flame Tiger Tribe. He was still strolling leisurely through their territory.
After finding Yan Zhan, the Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord said, "Young master, the Lord Demon Sage just ordered me to take you to the Ten Thousand Demons Hall immediately. Come with me, quickly."
"What? The Ten Thousand Demons Hall? There's nothing fun there. I'm not going!"
"Young master, these are the Lord Demon Sage's orders. I must take you away now. If we delay, it'll be too late!" the Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord urged.
"You're such a nuisance! You've ruined my good mood. This is our tribal territory, and Grandpa, a Demon Sage, is here. What blind fool would dare provoke us?" Yan Zhan said impatiently.
"I'm that blind fool!" As Yan Zhan was snapping at the Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord, an icy voice rang beside his ear. His whole body began to tremble as a chill that could freeze even his soul swept through him.
"Who's there? Who's playing these tricks?" Yan Zhan asked, shivering as he glanced around. He edged closer to the Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord.
"Who are you, sir? What brings you to the Crimson Flame Tiger Tribe?" The Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord also felt a threat that made his soul tremble, so he summoned his courage and addressed the sky.
"Hmph! Are you the scum who forced Xue'er to jump into the Misty Canyon?"
"Senior, spare me! I didn't mean it! I only wanted to joke with that girl and make friends. I never thought she would misunderstand and jump down herself."
"Senior! It really had nothing to do with me!" Yan Zhan immediately realized that someone from the Righteous Qi Sect must have come to settle the score. He promptly begged Li Dalong for mercy, his voice breaking as tears streamed down his face.
"Senior! Please spare our young master, considering his youth and out of respect for our Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage!" The Purple East Heavenly Demon Lord hurriedly pleaded with Li Dalong as well. From the moment Li Dalong appeared until now, he had been probing the surroundings with his divine sense, yet had never detected any intruder or foreign object.
He knew then that Li Dalong's cultivation far surpassed his own. At the very least, he was on the same level as the Lord Demon Sage.
To save Yan Zhan's life if he could, and to buy time until the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage noticed what was happening and came to their aid, he humbled himself and pleaded with Li Dalong.
"Spare him? How could I face my niece, whose fate remains unknown? Die!" Li Dalong said coldly, preparing to strike.
Then a roar rang out. "Fellow cultivator, wait! Allow me to explain!" The Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage had also noticed the disturbance and immediately rushed over. Arriving just as Li Dalong was about to strike his precious grandson, he hurriedly called out to stop him.
"Good, you're here. That saves me the trouble of finding you afterward," Li Dalong told the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage disdainfully.
"Fellow cultivator, you entered the depths of the Demon Beast Forest without permission. Aren't you afraid of punishment? The Heavenly Demon Hall will have something to say about this, too," the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage threatened.
"You and your grandson dared to attack the Righteous Qi Sect, my niece, and my junior brother. No matter who comes today, it won't help you. And don't threaten me with that damned Heavenly Demon Hall!" Li Dalong told the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage dismissively.
"Fellow cultivator, I understand why you've come. I'm willing to compensate the Righteous Qi Sect. How about we let the matter end here today?" the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage said quietly to Li Dalong. He did not want to lose face before his beloved grandson and subordinate, so he kept his voice very low.
"Die!" Li Dalong had no desire to waste any more words on them. He raised his hand, gathered spiritual energy, and swung the Azure Cloud Sword. A dazzling beam of sword light slashed toward the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage with a casual sweep.
The Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage had been on guard against Li Dalong ever since seeing him. As the sword light hurtled toward him, he hurriedly summoned his Spirit Blade, poured spiritual power into it, and met the incoming strike.
The sword light collided with the Spirit Blade, producing a deafening crash. At the point of impact, a spark seemed to blossom in midair, bursting into brilliant radiance.
Their figures crossed in the air, sword shadows and blade light weaving together into a dazzling painting. Every attack was unleashed with their greatest strength and speed, neither giving the other a moment to breathe.
Li Dalong's swordsmanship was fierce and razor-sharp, every swing carrying an irresistible force. The Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage wielded the sharpness of his Spirit Blade and his mysterious demon power as weapons, every slash carrying destructive might.
The shock waves from their battle made the surrounding space twist and tremble. Powerful energy rippled outward, preventing anyone from drawing near.
Sword light and blade light crossed, sword qi and blade qi crisscrossing into magnificent interwoven nets that shrouded the entire battlefield.
Li Dalong's swordsmanship grew ever fiercer. His sword light fell like rain, filling the sky as it swept toward the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage. The Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage's Spirit Blade also grew ever sharper, its light flashing like lightning as he tried to find an opening in Li Dalong's defenses.
The battle continued for a short while, and the tension mounted. Their attacks grew increasingly violent, every clash steeped in the threat of life and death.
Suddenly, a cold gleam flashed through Li Dalong's eyes. He swung the longsword in his hand, and its light flashed like lightning, instantly piercing the Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage's defenses and driving straight toward his chest.
The Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage's face blanched in horror. He hurriedly retreated several steps, trying to evade Li Dalong's attack. Yet the sword light followed him like his own shadow, pursuing him relentlessly before piercing straight through his chest. The Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage roared in agony as blood gushed out.
His body weakened instantly, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.
Li Dalong smiled coldly and put away his longsword, his indifferent gaze sweeping over the fallen Scarlet Radiance Demon Sage. He felt not the slightest pity, only deep disdain.
"Ah, no! Grandpa!" Yan Zhan watched as the grandfather who had doted on him was cleaved in two right before his eyes.
His grandfather, whom he had always seen as incomparably powerful, had failed to withstand even a few attacks before being split in two so easily.
Only then did regret begin to gnaw at him. He regretted provoking that girl of the Human Race and began to hate himself for never learning to behave. Otherwise, he would not have brought death upon his grandfather and the calamity of extermination upon the Crimson Flame Tiger Tribe.
Before you continue