Chapter 952

Although resources were not spared and great efforts were made to rescue the wounded, combined with life-repair capsules that reshaped their bodies and allowed many cultivators’ souls to return to their flesh, the losses were still substantial.

Some warships were destroyed—that was negligible, mere external losses—but the real damage came from five military elites whose fortunes were exhausted, a batch of highly promising evolution warriors, and the auxiliaries Li Yi had summoned, all of whom suffered heavy casualties; no fewer than ten Great Perfection cultivators were slain by great demons, though some of those Great Perfection cultivators managed to preserve their primordial spirits.

Additionally, three of the seven Martial Saints perished in battle; of the hundred experts from the Martial God Continent, fewer than fifty remain—this group suffered an unacceptably high death rate, due to their combat habits, which left them vulnerable.

Most crucially, Li Yi was injured while defeating the Purple Dragon Demon God, and his strength has declined—but fortunately, our great battle has achieved preliminary victory. Though a few demon kings still remain on the other two continents, they are no threat; we only need a few more days of rest to completely eradicate them.

Inside the command ship, Earth’s high command discussed the battle’s outcome, while simultaneously, aided by artificial intelligence, rapidly completing post-battle tasks and tallying casualties.

“Regardless, we have defeated a major cultivation realm. Though we suffered heavy losses, it was worth it. Taking the Demon God Realm means that all of Earth’s people will henceforth possess an exceptional cultivation environment and a secure escape route. I believe Earth’s evolutionists will rise to dominance in no time.”

Some high officials also believed this sacrifice was worthwhile.

Only by striking out can peace be guaranteed; defeating the Demon God Realm also deters other external enemies, playing a vital role in securing the coming period of stability.

“Let’s focus now on the aftermath,” Zhao Yongshan then steered the conversation back on track.

Though they did not take to the battlefield, much work still required their attention—this was their way of contributing their utmost.

If the follow-up work was poorly handled, those evolutionists would twist their heads off.

In this world, power is authority. Though they appeared to be high officials, the true master of all was Li Yi. When Li Yi decided to attack the Demon God Realm, they could only comply—and they had to empty every last resource.

At this moment, Li Yi had located a hidden demon king, crossed the sea to pursue him, and killed him mid-flight, then stored the demon king’s severed corpse inside the Crimson Gold Five Elements Bracelet.

He had become quite proficient at this.

Inside his Five Elements Bracelet now lay the remains of several demon kings, but the most precious were the body of the Purple Dragon Demon God and the demon god weapon he had seized from it.

“Taiyi, stop. Don’t pursue further. There are demon kings on that continent too—if we go over now, we risk being surrounded and killed. The danger remains.”

At this moment, Xuan Yuezi dared not stray far from Li Yi’s side; she knew his state was no longer at its peak. Though he could still fight demon kings, if surrounded, he risked death.

Li Yi halted and said: “This great battle was tense but ultimately without disaster. I didn’t expect the Demon God Realm to have such deep reserves, yet so few demon gods—only two capable of fighting. And even the Golden Crow Demon God lacked strong combat will. Had both demon gods joined forces from the start, I truly don’t know who would have won.”

“Perhaps this is why the Demon God Realm’s fortune has run out,” said Xuan Yuezi. “This world flourished too long, overrun by chaotic demons. Now facing such a calamity is only natural.”

“Xuan Yuezi is right. The Demon God Realm reveres bloodline. The Golden Crow, the Fire Phoenix, the Purple Dragon—these are truly noble mythic beings. After becoming demon gods, their combat power is terrifying. But the stronger the bloodline, the lower the chance of producing offspring. Decline from prosperity is inevitable. Our arrival merely accelerated this process.”

Xiang Xiangzi now flew over on a cloud of auspicious energy. She had fought a demon king and uncovered many secrets of this world.

All these demon kings and great demons: the flying ones were descendants of the Fire Phoenix, the terrestrial ones descendants of the Qilin, the scaled and serpentine ones descendants of the Purple Dragon. Such inherited bloodline power could not but decline.

“Fortunately, the Moon Heaven Demon King is dead. Had he been given time, he might have become a new demon god.”

Xiang Xiangzi then recalled the Moon Heaven Demon King.

He was the first demon king to appear before everyone’s eyes—noble bloodline, extraordinary, yet inexplicably perished in a strange place.

That was why Xuan Yuezi concluded the Demon God Realm’s fortune had run out.

“Enough idle talk. Let’s return and rest. The remaining two continents are now incapable of launching attacks—they’re already trapped rats, no threat. We’ll deal with them after we’ve rested.”

Li Yi gazed into the distance, his eyes piercing through layers of cloud sea to see the continent beyond the ocean.

He could even sense the fearful, restless presences of demon kings on that continent.

But Li Yi did not linger. He immediately withdrew his gaze, stepped upon auspicious clouds, and turned away with the two immortal maidens.

When he returned, many powerful figures across the sea were also retreating, all halting at the ocean's edge and refraining from rashly pursuing into the other two continents.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign was now performing Daoist arts, wielding great power to calm the lingering tremors of heaven and earth, then reassembling the shattered continents and restoring them.

Though not difficult, the task was time-consuming and exhausting.

Perhaps the Eastern Ultimate Heavenly Sovereign felt he had contributed little in battle, so he worked diligently to assist with the aftermath.

“Xiao Yi, how are you holding up?” As Li Yi returned, Li Jiye, the Divine Martial Emperor of the Incense World, swiftly flew over, his face filled with concern.

“No problem. Just a slight damage to my foundation—not a big deal. Father, why did you suddenly leave the Incense World and cross over?” Li Yi asked.

“With things this dire, could I sit still? But the Incense World is fine—don’t worry. I left your mother in charge of governance, with two immortal maidens guarding it. Nothing will go wrong,” Li Jiye said with a smile.

“You launched this war too hastily. If you’d waited ten or twenty years, until I’d trained your Embroidered Uniform Guards and Golden Eye Guards, our numbers would have matched the Demon God Realm’s.”

Li Yi chuckled: “I wanted to test the waters first. If it failed, I’d have had backup ready. Your Embroidered Uniform Guards and Golden Eye Guards aren’t ready yet. Future wars will be countless—we need to keep some reserves.”

“That’s true,” Li Jiye nodded. “I fought hard in this battle—my Imperial Seal was even chipped by a demon king’s weapon. I wonder if this is fate.”

He then pulled out the Imperial Seal with visible pain. Though blessed with fortune and immense power, one corner was now broken, no longer at its peak.

“It’s because the Imperial Seal’s material is too weak. Even with incense nourishment, it’s still insufficient. But no matter—I’ve hunted a true dragon. I’ll forge you a new seal with dragon bone, divine wood, and crimson gold.”

Li Yi smiled. He couldn’t let his father make this trip in vain.

“That’s wonderful!” Li Jiye’s eyes lit up with immediate delight.

“Now that we’ve taken the Demon God Realm, what resources won’t we have? Taiyi, I’ll help you loot everything,” Xiang Xiangzi said at once.

Xuan Yuezi looked up at the sky: “I recall the Golden Crow Demon God came from the direction of the sun. Perhaps that’s where his lair lies. After we rest, we should search there—maybe we’ll find something valuable.”

She was meticulous, having noticed a small detail.

The Golden Crow fled in haste—he had no time to return home. His countless years of accumulation must now be claimed as spoils.

“You’re right. This is important. I’ll have Hong Ji record it, so we don’t forget,” Li Yi nodded.

A demon god’s wealth was still very useful.

Li Jiye said: “By the way, Xiao Yi, should you return to the Incense World to recuperate?”

Li Yi replied: “No, I can’t go. As a god of this realm, I’ve established the Crimson Gold Kingdom in the Wildlands—I must appear to quell the divine-blooded warriors, or chaos will erupt. And the war isn’t over—I must stay here to stabilize morale.”

“Father, go back first. I’ll give you one of our immortal warships—you can cross over anytime you wish.”

“Alright, I’ll return first to tell your mother I’m safe. I’ll come back later,” Li Jiye said.

Soon after,

a divine-wood-built immortal warship flew over. Li Yi transferred authority to his father, Li Jiye, then watched him cross over and vanish.

Then the gate to the Incense World closed.

Without incense support, Li Yi’s strength began to decline again. Previously, he could kill demon kings; now, he could barely match them evenly.

Moreover, as time passed, the incense’s power continued to wane.

Li Yi now only hoped his strength wouldn’t drop too severely after rest—otherwise, he’d lose even his status as a god, and that would be disastrous.

All of this was the cost of burning divine blood.