Chapter 830

"The Demon Sea of Retribution?"

Upon hearing these three words, Li Rui and Zhong Li both subtly changed expression.

The Elder Wu Kong chuckled: "The Demon Sea of Retribution is a gathering place for demons—a great calamity, yet also a great boon. Just now, the Dao Lord Bai Lian came here to suppress it. You two are men of great merit; why not join us?"

Li Rui’s heart stirred slightly.

'Of course.'

Bai Lian was never stationed in this city—his sudden appearance must have a reason.

Moreover, he had already heard rumors.

Many True Lords who arrived at the Divine Light Altar never returned.

Now it seemed clear.

The Elders’ Council had deliberately kept these people in Divine Light City, preparing them to crush the Demon Sea of Retribution.

The Elder Wu Kong said: "Since the Ascension Platform, the Demon Sea of Retribution has been restless. The Elders’ Council plans to decisively quell the demonic unrest beyond the heavens."

Of course.

He did not say one thing aloud.

That was: Bai Lian’s enlightenment beyond the heavens had made the Demon Sea’s situation even more volatile, which is why the Elders’ Council chose to act early.

But such words, detrimental to the greater cause, were naturally left unsaid.

Besides, Bai Lian was no man who hid away—his rank on the Merit List was proof enough.

Zhong Li and Li Rui exchanged a glance, then nodded.

"Slaying demons and purging evil is our duty."

Hearing their swift agreement, the Elder Wu Kong beamed and said: "Excellent. You two are men of great righteousness."

Li Rui had no wish to get too deeply involved.

But the Elder Wu Kong’s invitation was, in truth, no invitation at all—there was no room for refusal.

If he guessed correctly,

they had long been watched by the Dao Lords within Divine Light City—that was the cause; the Elder Wu Kong’s appearance was merely the effect.

Of course,

they were far from the only ones being watched. Almost every True Lord in the city was likely a product of the Dao Lords’ planning.

Since refusal was impossible, better to agree willingly.

Otherwise, when a Dao Lord comes to your door, will you go or won’t you?

He understood this situation well enough.

The Elder Wu Kong immediately led Zhong Li and Li Rui into a grand hall beside the Divine Light Altar.

Stepping inside,

they saw over a dozen figures already gathered, among them was Gao Tianxia.

"Master."

Li Rui walked straight to Gao Tianxia and bowed respectfully.

Gao Tianxia, seeing Li Rui, smiled warmly and said: "Good. You’ve come far."

After some exchange,

Li Rui learned that Gao Tianxia, like himself, had been left behind in the city after arriving at the Divine Light Altar, and had been staying there for over several months.

Since they were here, they might as well settle in.

So he and Zhong Li took up residence in Divine Light City.

A month passed.

The Dao Lord Xuan Feng appeared in the hall, coldly stating: "Follow me to the Demon Sea of Retribution."

All present were startled.

The great battle was about to begin!

This hall held twenty-five True Lords alone—nearly half of all True Lords in the Beyond Heavens—and several Dao Lords had joined.

They meant to end the Demon Sea of Retribution.

A void-ship glided soundlessly through the nine heavens.

"This Void Vessel is truly wondrous."

Li Rui thought to himself.

His gaze settled on the figure at the prow.

It was Bai Lian.

This Void Vessel was Bai Lian’s creation—exceedingly mysterious, capable of traversing the void directly, even difficult for Dao Lords to detect.

Looking around the vessel,

there were over thirty people aboard, each no lower than a True Lord.

The Elders’ Council meant business.

Gao Tianxia’s voice spoke: "The Beyond Heavens has three demonic sources. The Demon Sea of Retribution is one of them. If we eradicate it, we can secure three hundred years of peace for the Beyond Heavens."

He had lived in the Beyond Heavens for centuries—he knew its affairs well.