Chapter 301: with translation of chapter title

On New Year's Eve, the Xie Family welcomed a new member this year, but it was also the first time they were not reunited.

Grandfather Xie, Xie Wenmo, and Xie Jingzhou were busy in the kitchen, while Xu Airu and Xie Jingting played with Tushan Bai and Tushan Xi.

In the living room, the 180‑inch large television was airing the news broadcast, which was nearing its end; in half an hour, the Spring Festival Gala would begin live.

But these two little ones were unusually quiet today; after sunset, they kept glancing from time to time at the sky outside the floor‑to‑ceiling window, obscured by dark clouds.

Xu Airu and Xie Jingting exchanged a glance, both filled with worry.

The two went to pick up Tushan Bai and Tushan Xi to comfort them.

"Little Bai, Little Xi, Mom and Dad are the best; they promised us that after defeating those evil demons they'll come back to have reunion dinner with us; Grandma will take you to the back garden to play with Big Yellow, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, if you don't want to go play with Big Yellow, how about Uncle San playing a 'catch the ghost' game with you? Uncle San as the ghost—how does that sound?"

The two little ones still weren't moved.

Xu Airu let out a sigh, helplessly shook her head, and glanced at the ever‑darkening sky.

Within that blackness, a faint hint of blood‑red could be seen.

Suddenly, a dragon's roar came from the backyard; Xu Airu and Xie Jingting hurriedly picked up the children.

Tushan Bai's mouth mumbled out a single word—'Hit!'

At the same time, music began to play from the television.

"Dear viewers, everyone, happy New Year!"

Xie Jingting glanced at the time on the TV.

It was exactly eight o'clock!

At that moment, on the cross‑river bridge at the edge of Nan Cheng.

"Clang!"—the barrier was violently struck, and the bridge began to shake incessantly.

But Maomao, Mumu, Wang Dongqing, and Xiang Yichu stood firm here, not shaking at all.

Behind them were the Daoist masters who had completed setting up the formation.

Tushan Jiu was not there.

Today this place wasn't her main stage; she was to act as a genuine support.

Her support was not just for Nan Cheng but for the entirety of China.

Before Tushan Jiu lay eight different communication devices, each corresponding to one of the seven cities they were attacking, plus one linked to the military command headquarters.

By superior order, Tushan Jiu's commands must be executed exactly as pointed—strike where aimed, and whatever is struck shall die!

What Tushan Jiu must do now is keep the heavenly eye open for prophecy while simultaneously commanding the seven battlefields.

Don't let her absence from the front fool you—she is the most difficult and crucial figure in this campaign.

She must keep the heavenly eye open at all times, multitask seven ways, and as quickly as possible deduce the enemy's formation weaknesses, inform everyone, and thus minimize the time needed to slay foes.

After all, the demon race possesses innate physical advantages over humans; in close combat they would be at a great disadvantage, which would increase casualties.

Demonic energy surged on the bridge; Tushan Jiu closed her eyes, and the golden markings on her brow began to flow slowly.

The first button she pressed was the Nan Cheng communicator.

"They've appeared—a leading three‑legged bird with about ten other bird demons behind it; their weakness is……uh?"

The people on the bridge were nervously listening to Tushan Jiu's continuation.

Suddenly she spoke again: "No need; these few will die before even leaving the barrier."

Mumu had readied himself to charge forward, but he almost twisted his waist, then pressed his ear mic: "Why?"

"He drank pesticide."

The crowd: "……"

This is war—are the demons really so careless?

Having said that, Tushan Jiu began directing the other cities.

Those six cities had already opened fire.

Meanwhile, Nan Cheng only received the second order five minutes later.

"Three lion demons, one vine flower demon, thirty‑six spider maidens, eighteen snake‑transformed demons—be careful; in ten seconds, first throw fire talismans, then immediately follow with five‑thunder talismans, fire attacks east, thunder attacks west."

"Five, four, three, two, one, go!"

As soon as Tushan Jiu's words fell, countless yellow talismans flew toward the 'gate'.

"Bang!"

"Rumble—"

The newly emerged 'little soldiers' were dazed, as fire and lightning blanketed the sky.

Those who didn't know thought they'd stumbled into a disco bar, the flashes blinding their eyes.

But they had already left the barrier—it was too late.

Basically, they were all burned or split into charcoal.

Even the few minor demons that managed to escape were slain by the Daoist masters guarding the gaps.

Within the demon race, the great demon king who sensed everything raised his brow slightly.

Beside him were two old men, also great demons.

They all frowned, having also sensed something.

One of them, whose face resembled a monkey's butt, flushed with anger: "How could human Daoist masters know our plan! This plan was known only to us three; even those demon troops were only assembled yesterday!"

The other, whose spotted face was darkened to the extreme, narrowed his eyes at the demon king and asked: "Your Majesty, are you sure the plan is known only to us three? You didn't tell any other demons, did you?"

The old man, expressionless, faced the Leopard King: "What do you say?"

A single glance, and both demons felt the pressure.

This is the demon king's demonic power suppression.

Even if they had become demon kings, they still weren't even half as good as others.

After all, he was already equivalent to an Earth Immortal level.

The old man withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and only opened them again after a full ten minutes.

His expression finally changed slightly, his brows furrowing: "That female knife-wielder!" He narrowed his eyes, "Looks like I underestimated her; she actually opened her heavenly eye, no wonder."

The burly mountain spirit stared wide-eyed, "Damn it, female knife-wielder! She even opened her heavenly eye! This is getting a bit troublesome!"

Those who have opened the heavenly eye—nothing can escape her notice!

The old man pondered for a moment, then his brows relaxed and he chuckled: "Hah, just a little kid—newborn calves aren't afraid of tigers!"

The doors elsewhere remain intact, hard to breach; just adjust the Nan Cheng timing a bit—one batch per hour will do. Mountain Spirit King, after the second batch ends, lead your twenty-four mountain sprites and monsters into battle, give them a good grind.

The old man slowly lifted his head to look at the sky, curled his lips into a smile: "Little girl, can you hear me? I want to see if your heavenly eye can stay open for twenty-four hours! Hahahaha!"

The other two demons, seeing their great demon king so assured, looked much better.

The Mountain Spirit King stood up, shouted loudly, and gave the order:

Chi, Mei, Wang, Liang, Tao, Kui, Ba, Xiang, Zhi, Zhi, Gui, Huang, Zan, Hui, Liao, E, Pi, Mi, Hui, Luo, E, Yao, Xiao, all mountain demons hear my order, kill them leaving not a scrap of armor, eat the flesh of those mystic masters, drink the blood of whatever knife-wielder!

After he finished speaking, in the darkness below, twenty-four voices responded in unison:

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"