[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-watching-the-immortals-fall":3,"chapter-watching-the-immortals-fall-watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-343":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Watching the Immortals Fall",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260216,4410,"Chapter 343: The Demon Race Returns","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-343",343,"\u003Cp>BOOM!!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a violent explosion, the western section of the Northern Border wall collapsed violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stones weighing tens of thousands of tons fell from the rampart, smashing deep craters into the frozen earth of the Northern Border, as dust and sand roared upward in swirling clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the massive breach, burly barbarian soldiers surged inward in a roaring tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, above the unprotected sky, feathered tribe soldiers flew through the air, densely pouring over the wall and instantly entering the Northern Border, long prepared as a military frontline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless figures blanketed the sky, their overwhelming presence triggering blazing beacons of smoke and fire across the Northern Plain in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ZZZZT!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the towering watchtowers along the first defensive line inside the Northern Border wall, countless arrows shot forth with a whistling roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Specialized arrows forged from black iron, driven by spiritual energy, pierced the barbarian soldiers in an instant—each impact erupted with a wet thud, staining the night sky crimson, as the beasts’ roars echoed across heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they did not understand why the great array on the western wall had suddenly failed, the human soldiers immediately chose to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over centuries, the two races had clashed repeatedly, and the human military long ago knew precisely how to inflict devastating blows upon their enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Massive crossbow bolts, shrieking with terrifying force, rained down like a storm under the drive of spiritual energy, delivering a crushing blow to the barbarian vanguard and triggering a chorus of furious roars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Charge!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crush that tower!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A barbarian warlord leading the advance roared to the heavens, and behind the ranks, a beast as tall as a dwarf mountain instantly charged forward with thundering hooves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thunderous crash, hundreds of watchtowers guarding the garrison were obliterated in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, five figures shot across the night, each wielding heavy, razor-sharp blades, slicing through the camp with terrifying power—youthful bodies moving with astonishing agility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were prodigies of the demon race, now using their overwhelming strength to lead the charge, relentlessly slaughtering on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether the barbarians who had been assaulting the Northern Border all along, or the demons who had lain dormant for generations,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both races had prepared for a millennium to reclaim the Nine Provinces; such prodigies could no longer wait to achieve glory here and now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The northwest defense post was instantly swallowed, and roaring flames began spreading across the withered grasslands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick, gray-black smoke rolled skyward, spreading in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the collapsed western wall, a palanquin descended from the sky; Night Han, the demon emperor’s son, sat calmly upon it, squinting as he surveyed the advancing army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had dreamed of this scene countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when the barbarians once sent an envoy to the Snow Realm, it had stirred him endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his father, the emperor, had always believed the timing was not right, waiting for the old man of the Heavenly Book Academy to leave this world before glimpsing a sliver of heavenly fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the demon race had waited patiently—until just days ago, when his father suddenly dispatched an envoy to the Ten Thousand Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he knew the time had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nine Provinces—our demon race has finally returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night Han’s eyes blazed as he clenched his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been entrusted by the demon emperor to lead the first wave of demon soldiers to capture the Northern Border, then march across its vast expanse to push the front directly to the Youyun border, and ally with the barbarians to seize two major provinces as new ancestral lands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the Ten Thousand Mountains and the endless snow plains would connect with the Northern Border, and the entire northwest of the continent would fall under their control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid fierce battlefire, the excited soldiers of both races surged forward, reaching the Yuhong Mountains of the Northern Border.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a major human army stationed in the west charged forth with thundering warhorses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading this force was a renowned general of the Northern Garrison Army, named Yu Lei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his command, waves of heavily armored troops raised shields and thrust spears, charging toward the barbarian-demon army—the heavy pounding of their footsteps shook the hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blades clashed—the battle erupted instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Foot soldiers collided like raging torrents, instantly locked in bloody chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, countless powerful figures leapt from the ranks, radiating majestic energy as they broke through the human army and clashed violently with the rising elite warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this chaotic, sprawling battle, Yu Lei’s eyes hardened instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a thousand years, the northwest had never been the barbarians’ primary point of attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet today, the Northern Border suffered a night raid, and the protective array failed precisely at this spot—leaving the main forces stationed here utterly unprepared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no coincidence—it was a meticulously planned assault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Report!!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The garrison commanding the northwest wall is empty—but the main camp is stained with vast pools of blood, dried for several days. It appears they were ambushed the very day the array failed and slaughtered to the last man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the report, Yu Lei gritted his teeth: “Clever plan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The messenger knelt: “General, the enemy numbers are too great—we cannot hold alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Send urgent word to the central garrison—send reinforcements immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first battle of Northern Border defense lasted the entire night; Yu Lei’s troops were crushed under the barbarian-demon onslaught, retreating step by step—even failing to slow their advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was not surprising: defenders always face inherent disadvantage against attacking vanguards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since the Northern Garrison Army’s strength was roughly equal to the barbarians’; now with the demons joining, the balance was shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time reinforcements arrived from the central garrison, the barbarian-demon forces had already pushed past the southern side of the Yuhong Mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the front lines, at the former northwest garrison post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon and barbarian command camps had established themselves here, using the natural elevation of the Yuhong Mountains to overlook the entire battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the deep night, as the second offensive began, demon and barbarian leaders held a brief meeting, agreeing to revise their tactics at the operational command post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were now allies, united against the humans, sharing the same goal: to return to the Nine Provinces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaching the Northern Border wall was the first phase of their plan; now that the wall had fallen and their armies had poured in, they must once again coordinate their offensive directions and tactics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the deep night sky, Prince Night Han arrived wrapped in a thick, frosty fur cloak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This cloak was essential for life in the Snow Realm, but in the warm climate of the Nine Provinces, it already made him sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he did not remove it; he let the sweat stream down, determined to remember the injustice heaven had inflicted upon his race.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Accompanying him were the crown princes of the Lin and Ya tribes—Lin Dou and Ya Shan—who were young tribal heirs and brilliant demon generals, both having reached the peak of the Profound Demon realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both demon and barbarian races judged realms by combat strength, cultivating their innate talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarians divided their realms into: Lower Soldier, Upper Soldier, Warlord, General King, Tribal King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demons classified theirs as: Dust Demon, Spirit Demon, Mystic Demon, Heavenly Demon, Demon King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mystic Demon peak realm was comparable to a human’s Ying Tian Initial Realm—a rarity even within their own kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three entered the camp and immediately turned to the map and sand table, pondering for a long while, when six barbarian figures parted the tent flap and entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the demons had sent a prince to lead their army, the barbarians had dispatched two princes and one princess for this battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one holding real power was the barbarian crown prince Tuoba Yi, flanked by his younger brother Tuoba Chen and princess Tuoba Jiazi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their cultivation levels were formidable, making Night Han sense an oppressive aura—someone among them had surely entered the General King realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their attire, however, revealed stark differences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The barbarians dressed coarsely, especially the men—exposing much of their bodies, a custom to proudly display their powerful physiques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Night, long time no see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our armies are now allies—Tuoba brother, no need for formalities.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1375,"2026-06-19T15:28:41.422Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","043afe7a51bf0fa07caa011a4f35015007e585649b158961685d80b86d8e214d","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-344","watching-the-immortals-fall-chapter-342",430,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwatching-the-immortals-fall-cover.jpg"]