Chapter 822: Xiong Feiyu

In the depths of a desolate mountain, a damp, dim cave, only a few strands of blood‑colored Dao Mark drift slowly through the void, reflecting a figure in black robes seated in meditation. Yan Buji slowly opened his eyes, a flash of scarlet flashing in the depths of his pupils, like a coiled poisonous snake finally awakening.

"The Martial Dao blade marks have reached 1,800, and the distance to the late stage of Martial Immortal is but one step away......"

He murmured to himself, his voice hoarse and low, as if he had not spoken for ages. Fifteen years of hidden cultivation had caused his strength to surge, but Yan Buji knew clearly that it was still far from enough.

He raised his hand and waved; twelve zodiac phantasms materialized behind him, each exuding the aura of a mid‑Nascent Soul. The rat's eyes were cold, the ox's horns towering, the tiger's claws sharp... they stood silently, yet a faint aura of ferocity emanated. These zodiac incarnations were no longer simple puppets, but truly possessed combat instincts, even capable of evolving battle formations on their own.

"The demon races' patrols have become increasingly frequent."

Yan Buji lightly tapped the ground with his fingertip, a surge of blood‑colored light rippled outward, manifesting a scene spanning a hundred‑mile radius. Three squads of demon cultivators were patrolling the nearby mountains, led by a wolf demon commander at the Transformative God stage, his fangs fierce, eyes blazing as if they could pierce any concealment technique.

Yan Buji let out a cold laugh, his form gradually becoming insubstantial, turning into a wisp of blood mist that seeped into the rock crevices. Over the past fifteen years, he had been like a poisonous snake, changing lairs each time he was discovered, roaming constantly within demon territory. Had he not mastered concealment techniques, he would likely have been detected by the demon's great powers long ago.

"Almost there......"

He gazed toward Luohuang Zhou, a flash of cold light flickering in his eyes.

"Yun Qing, wait a little longer for father."

Meanwhile.

Within Luohuang Zhou.

Since the Anomalous Zone appeared, the demon races have set up a grand array along the border of the Otherworldly Race Continent, both to guard against the Anomalous Zone's expansion and to prevent other cultivators from entering Luohuang Zhou!

The original Royal City had long since been corrupted; now the demon cultivators guarding Luohuang Zhou have reestablished a city north of the Dinglong Mountains, near Xuanming Zhou, and some are scouting the area to prevent human cultivators from slipping in or escaping.

Xiong Feiyu looked on with reverence at a beautiful woman in a teal‑skirted dress, her beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, her demeanor exuding countless charms. She lounged lazily on the jade throne, twirling a teal feather between her fingers, expression indifferent. Candlelight flickered in the hall, reflecting her stunning visage, yet could not hide the coldness in her eyes.

Xiong Feiyu knelt before the throne, his forehead pressed to the ground, cold sweat sliding down his temples. He cautiously lifted his head, stole a glance at Qing Xuan, then quickly lowered it again, fearing to provoke the capricious elder.

"According to scout reports, the Fa Tian Sect, the Sun‑Moon Palace, and Little Spirit Mountain have all sent Elders. The most troublesome is......" his Adam's apple bobbed, voice trembling, "the Heaven Punishment Palace of the Beichuan Ice Domain has also intervened."

"Heaven Punishment Palace?"

The feather in Qing Xuan's hand suddenly ignited with blue flame, and the temperature of the entire hall rose sharply.

Heaven Punishment Palace!

It is a very special faction of the Human Continent, tasked with suppressing other races, adhering to the principle that those who are not of our kind must have divergent hearts; its ruler is a terrifying presence at the pinnacle of the Great Vehicle. Their involvement would mean the situation has escalated to the brink of a racial war.

Qing Xuan snorted coldly, "What? They actually want to go to war with our demon races, huh?"

"This... I dare not speak rashly," Xiong Feiyu lowered his head, his face covered in cold sweat.

If it truly developed that way, Xiong Feiyu saw no benefit for himself in a war between humans and demons.

On the contrary, because most of Luohuang Zhou has become an Anomalous Zone, he is now recorded by the Royal Court, a disgraced man. If the Human Continent truly goes to war, he would likely be the first vanguard.

Isn't that a death sentence?

Qing Luan thought for a moment, "Indeed, if the Human Continent truly unites to pressure us, the Royal Court might also consider negotiations."

Each domain's demon Royal Court governs differently; unlike the Human Continent, which is either ruled by cultivation families or by numerous sects, the demon Royal Court leans toward a centralized, unified court, recognizing a true Great King as sovereign. In reality, the Great King of Zhong Tian Zhi Yu lacks strong racial backing, being merely a minor noble of royal blood thrust into the spotlight; the ones truly conveying orders within the Royal Court are the great powers of the dominant clans.

But when truly weighing whether war with the Human Continent is worthwhile, few would genuinely be hawks.

The clash of power is quite complex; Qing Xuan does not wish to be involved, which is why she came to Luohuang Zhou. As for the transaction with the Black Heavenly Emperor, it was forced by circumstances; the Black Heavenly Emperor has long returned to the Supreme Wind Cave to continue cultivation, and it bears little relevance to her now.

However, no one knows what exactly Qing Xuan traded with the Black Heavenly Emperor; perhaps only they themselves know.

At least after the Black Heavenly Emperor broke his seal, he has not been slaughtering indiscriminately; instead he returned to the Supreme Wind Cave, which the demon Royal Court can accept.

Meanwhile, the situation in Luohuang Zhou is tense; under the combined pressure of dozens of major sects of the Human Continent, the humans claim to 'protect the Otherworldly Race Continent from Anomalous Zone encroachment,' causing several Otherworldly Race tribes, including the Fox Tribe, to withdraw from the border near Luohuang Zhou.

At this moment, the major forces of the Human Continent have gathered at Luohuang Zhou's border, and Qing Xuan feels a wave of pressure.

"Sir, I think we should follow the Royal Court's arrangement for now; rashly clashing with the Human Continent is not a good idea," Xiong Feiyu said.

"Do I need you to explain?"

"Yes, yes, I was being talkative," Xiong Feiyu hurriedly lowered his head, his complexion turning cold.

But we must find a way to make the demon races fight the humans; otherwise, how can we fish in the muddied waters?

Xiong Feiyu squinted, intending to scheme against Qing Xuan, but this elder rarely leaves the Royal City, leaving him with no chance.

She narrowed her phoenix eyes, looking toward the hall's exterior, where several captured human cultivators were chained.

"As for those who are shouting at the border, the humans..."

A flash of blue light streaked by, and a mournful scream echoed from outside the hall. The human cultivators bound by iron chains instantly turned to ash, their very souls unable to escape.

"Let them keep barking."

Qing Xuan let out a cold laugh, turned and left, leaving Xiong Feiyu kneeling on the spot, his complexion fluctuating.

Xiong Feiyu went alone to a desolate altar on the city outskirts, overgrown with weeds and haunted by cold winds. After cautiously scanning the surroundings and confirming no one was following, he bit his finger and etched a strange rune onto the stone platform.

The rune glowed with blood light, and Wu Xu Zi's voice emanated from it: "Sir, I have already, as per your request, stirred up the border human forces."

"It's still not enough... Qing Xuan dares not take the field, the Royal Court's stance is ambiguous; we must draw them fully into the flames of war."

Xiong Feiyu revealed a snarling grin, pulling from his chest an Image Retaining Stone, its surface recording the scene of Qing Xuan's secret discussion with the Black Heavenly Emperor.

"Three days later, on the night of the lunar eclipse, the border array will briefly fail..." he whispered, "We will seize the chance to leak this image to the human side."

Wu Xu Zi fell silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes."

Xiong Feiyu tucked away the Image Retaining Stone, a flash of madness crossing his eyes.

"The conflict between humans and demons... the Great Dao's struggle cares not for racial sentiment!"