Chapter 261: Attacked from Both Sides

Elsewhere.

Yuan Yao and Xie Yan left the ruined city and began discussing what to do next.

Yuan Yao analyzed: "The White Wolf Emperor once said that among the demon forces stationed on the Ten Thousand Li Plain this time, there are several prominent figures, including the Great Prince of the Demon Realm Quanwu, the Demon Sovereign Kuishi, the Demon Emperor Yueyi, the Demon Emperor Kouzhang, and the Demon Emperor Jifang. If we want to break the alliance between the demon and monster races, we must find a breakthrough among them."

Xie Yan said solemnly: "The one who pursued us to Binding Peace City at the end must be an avatar of the Demon Sovereign Kuishi's consciousness."

Hearing this, Yuan Yao was not surprised.

The Demon Sovereign Kuishi, with just a single avatar of consciousness, is already this powerful; for her and Xie Yan to oppose him is like striking a rock with an egg—hard as climbing to heaven.

Yuan Yao looked at Xie Yan and asked, "What do you think our chances are against the Demon Sovereign Kuishi?"

Xie Yan pondered for a few seconds, then replied in a low voice, "One percent."

"What if the target is a Demon Emperor?"

"Forty percent."

Yuan Yao listened, then fell into thought.

She seemed to have thought of something, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly: "Since the odds of defeating a Demon Sovereign or a Demon Emperor are both so low, why not directly take on the most challenging one?"

Xie Yan understood her meaning; a flicker of smile crossed his eyes, then vanished as if it had never been there.

"What if our mission fails?" he said softly.

Yuan Yao: "Then we run."

He lowered his eyes: "What if we can't escape?"

Yuan Yao choked slightly; she knew she had a life-saving charm placed on her by her own master, so she dared to take the gamble.

But Xie Yan did not.

"Since we are allies, if we ever reach that life‑or‑death moment, I can stake my life to block the pursuers and give you a chance to flee." Yuan Yao stared at him, speaking solemnly: "But there is only one chance; if you cannot seize it, you will fall here. So, are you still willing to cooperate with me to complete this dangerous task?"

Xie Yan met her unusually earnest gaze.

He suddenly felt that he still didn't know Yuan Yao well enough.

Xie Yan nodded. "Good."

He naturally knew Yuan Yao possessed a life‑saving method.

Xie Yan said: "Quanwu is dead; the Demon Sovereign Kuishi will surely rush to Binding Peace City to check the situation. We can sneak into Azure City ahead of time, or, while the Demon Sovereign Kuishi has not yet returned to Azure City, we can rest and heal our bodies, make full preparations, and wait for a chance to behead the Demon Sovereign Kuishi."

Yuan Yao felt his words made sense, so she nodded in agreement.

She suddenly thought of her senior brothers and sisters.

Since entering the Flowing Light Secret Realm, she has only encountered the Youngest Senior Brother Ying Wuji; she does not know how the Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Brother, and Fourth Senior Brother are faring now.

…

Meanwhile.

Ten Thousand Li Plain, Azure City.

Rows of demon soldiers were stationed inside and outside the Ford Fate Inn.

At the gate of the Ford Fate Inn stood a demon soldier whose face was covered in demonic markings, holding an ordinary spear, standing rigidly; upon closer look, one could see he had closed his eyes.

He seemed to be asleep.

The demon soldier guarding beside him, upon seeing a demon officer approach not far away, quickly reached out and shoved the spear‑holding soldier, lowering his voice to warn: "Don't sleep."

The spear‑holding demon soldier almost staggered, but he immediately straightened his body, his eyes blazing as he stared straight ahead.

He was grim yet still humble and fawning.

There was nothing to fault about him.

The demon officer walked slowly toward the Ford Fate Inn; as he passed the spear‑holding soldier, he tilted his head, his sharp gaze like a hawk's sweeping over him, then asked, "What is your name?"

"Sir, my name is Sangta Li A Cang," the demon soldier said obsequiously to the officer, his voice full of reverence.

The demon officer glanced at him a few times, then stepped into the Ford Fate Inn.

After the demon officer left, Sangta Li A Cang turned his head to look at the 'demon soldier' who had just woken him.

"Eldest Senior Brother, I want to sleep a little longer," he transmitted.

Sangta Li A Cang was none other than Cang Li, disguised as a demon soldier.

And the demon soldier beside Cang Li was none other than Song Yan.

Without waiting for Song Yan's reply, Cang Li closed his eyes again.

Song Yan: "……"

Song Yan watched the already‑asleep Cang Li, let out a soft sigh, then began observing his surroundings.

He and Ali infiltrated Azure City at dawn; after entering, they killed two demon soldiers and took their places.

Suddenly, a clamor arose from the street ahead.

Only to see soldiers of the demon and monster races escorting twenty‑something young human cultivators in a prison cart.

Those twenty‑something young human cultivators…

They were clearly not illusions, nor figures from over seven hundred years ago.

But rather——

human cultivators who had obtained slots to enter the Flowing Light Secret Realm.

They had been captured, which very likely meant that their identities, whereabouts, and missions had all been exposed.

Song Yan's face darkened.

Once the demon and monster races obtain key information from them, their attempt to prevent the demon and monster invasion of the cultivation world will be exposed.

The young human cultivators trapped in the prison cart showed varied expressions: some were frightened, some had grim faces, some were deep in thought, some showed despair……

Some of them had already had their cultivation abolished, which meant that even if they survived to get out, they would be nothing but crippled.

This is the cruelty of training.

Song Yan pressed his lips tight, his heart stirred, and just as he was about to act, his arm was grabbed by Cang Li with one hand.

"Eldest Senior Brother." Cang Li tilted his head, his gaze hinting at him.

Song Yan came to his senses, and quickly he followed Cang Li's gaze, seeing many demons and monsters lurking in the shadows, waiting to act.

Obviously, they were using the young human cultivators on the prison cart to lure out the other human cultivators who had infiltrated Green City.

If Cang Li hadn't stopped Song Yan just now, Song Yan would have become the target of everyone's anger the moment he stepped out.

Song Yan calmed down a little, but looking at the human cultivators on the prison cart, a pitying look still appeared in his eyes.

But the next moment—

Then three human cultivators disguised as monsters rushed out, attempting to seize the prison cart.

Soon, the demon and monster escorts of the prison cart clashed with those three human cultivators.

As the fight went on, four more humans disguised as demon-monster appearance appeared, quickly joining the battle.

Those seven human cultivators quickly gained the upper hand, but just as they were about to break open the prison cart—

"Fire!"

A low, sinister voice rang out, and in an instant, all the demons hiding in the shadows drew their bows and fired.

Swish—swish—swish—

Countless arrows shot toward those seven human cultivators.

"An ambush!" By the time those seven human cultivators reacted, they were already attacked from front and rear, utterly unable to withstand the sheer number of demon and monster forces.

Soon after, two were dead and five wounded.

The five seriously wounded were captured, then had their mouths sealed with demonic power, and were thrown into the prison cart.