Chapter 287: Fivefold Heaven (Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year!)

Episode 12, Chapter 17: The Fifth Heaven

Anhai Pass, Xue Mansion.

The Xue Mansion's training ground was enormous, spanning over half the entire estate, approximately two *li* long and wide. No family members or servants were permitted inside; even gods and demons could only make reports from outside the training ground.

For years, only one person ever occupied the training ground: King Anhai.

“Inhale, exhale.”

King Anhai sat cross-legged on the grass of the training ground. In the vast space, no one disturbed him.

With a stern face and tall build, he sat cross-legged, exuding an enigmatic aura. The moonlight around him seemed to twist, and the flow of time appeared altered.

“Hmm?”

He opened his eyes.

Like the first ray of light in the world, they held a terrifying power.

He enjoyed immense prestige among gods and demons; even the demon race greatly feared him. He was widely acknowledged by Yuanchu Mountain as the King God-demon most likely to reach the 'Creation Realm'. Even though they knew he was a major threat, the demon race dared not ambush him, and Demon Saint Jiuyuan had never chosen him as an opponent.

“Envoys?” King Anhai looked up at the sky, where two figures had appeared. One was a bird demon king's envoy, and the other was a dark-red metallic beast resembling a peacock.

“Reporting to King Anhai,” the bird demon king's envoy respectfully said, extending a letter. The envelope flew directly towards King Anhai. “This is a transfer order from Yuanchu Mountain.”

“A transfer order?” King Anhai frowned slightly. He had been stationed at Anhai Pass for a long time; surely they weren't reassigning him away from it?

He opened the envelope and read the letter's contents.

“During wartime, the Anhai Pass is less likely to be attacked; it will be guarded by a Dharma Protector Divine Beast. I am being reassigned to Beisu City?” King Anhai glanced at the Dharma Protector Divine Beast. He could faintly sense the unique nature of its body, which was practically a 'Creation Realm divine weapon' in itself. He could only defeat the beast, not truly damage it.

“It's certainly sufficient for guarding the pass,” King Anhai nodded slightly and said. “I will depart for Beisu City now.”

King Anhai vanished instantly, reappearing far off in the sky, then disappeared completely with another flash.

“A Dharma Protector Divine Beast will temporarily guard Zhenwu Pass. I am being reassigned to Lishui City?” King Zhenwu smiled as he read the letter. He was a kind, long-haired elder, the foremost King God-demon of Yuanchu Mountain in this era. In terms of skill, realm, and soul... he was in no way inferior to a Creation Realm Venerable. However, because of his advanced age, the hope of breaking through to become a Creation Realm Venerable was extremely slim. Any attempt at breakthrough carried a ninety percent chance of death.

“The likelihood of Zhenwu Pass being attacked is very low, making it suitable for a Dharma Protector Divine Beast to guard,” King Zhenwu nodded.

His status was unique; he was the designated next 'Dao Protector' and was privy to many secrets within the sect. For instance, these Dharma Protector Divine Beasts, if well-maintained, could exist eternally. However, while fine when not in combat, their maintenance costs would drastically increase if they actually engaged in battle.

After all, Dharma Protector Divine Beasts were merely special puppet tools. While it was normal for gods and demons to fight, the beasts' combat consumed astonishing resources. A single major battle could incur maintenance costs equivalent to tens of millions of merit points. They were to be used as sparingly as possible.

“This decisive battle must end in a great victory. Otherwise, if all our trump cards are played, we'll be in trouble later,” King Zhenwu, upon seeing the Dharma Protector Divine Beasts, also surmised the Venerables' general plan: it seemed most of the sect's accumulated combat strength had been deployed.

With a single stride, King Zhenwu produced dozens of afterimages in the void ahead, which then vanished into the horizon.

In terms of speed, both King Anhai and King Zhenwu far surpassed ordinary King-level figures, only slightly trailing Creation Realm Venerables.

“A great war is coming.”

The white-haired, white-browed elder looked at the letter, nodded slightly, and with a single step, streaked across the sky, vanishing into the distance.

King Baixiang was the oldest King God-demon of his generation, not far from entering a slumber that felt like a thousand years in an instant.

That night, deployments were underway across the world.

After all, the three major sects were deploying within their respective territories, so the speed was swift. The entire deployment was completed within three hours! Figures like Meng Chuan, Liu Qiyue, Xue Feng, Yan Chitong, and others were all in their assigned locations, patiently awaiting the decisive battle.

Inside the Grotto-Heaven World.

Demon Saint Jiuyuan sat on his throne, poring over scrolls.

“Two Marquis God-demons from Two-Worlds Island have sent out intelligence. From Yuanchu Mountain, one Marquis God-demon has sent out intelligence. From Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, no intelligence at all?” Demon Saint Jiuyuan frowned. “Didn't we say there were eighteen Marquis God-demons from the human race in contact with us, yet only three have managed to send information? At this critical moment, how can they shrink back?”

“Reporting, Demon Saint, the three major sects are guarding cautiously, making it very difficult to transmit information,” a Heavenly Demon below respectfully replied. “It's already quite an achievement that three have managed to send messages.”

“Both Marquis God-demons from Two-Worlds Island are secretly hidden near medium-sized world entrances?” Demon Saint Jiuyuan looked at the intelligence. “Is the one from Yuanchu Mountain who leaked the information also hidden near a medium-sized world entrance?”

The Heavenly Demon respectfully replied, “They are all hidden individually near world entrances, and it was extremely difficult for them to find an opportunity to send out information.”

“Even now, they are still dispatching Marquis God-demons to guard medium-sized world entrances?” Demon Saint Jiuyuan frowned. “It seems they are highly vigilant against the millions of demon kings, and they absolutely won't allow so many demon kings to easily invade.”

“Indeed,” the Heavenly Demon respectfully said.

“They are willing to lower the defensive strength of some major cities just to intercept the millions of demon kings,” Demon Saint Jiuyuan mused. “However, with only three pieces of intelligence, there's still too little to discern.”

The Heavenly Demon respectfully said, “The scrolls contain some deductions made by our Heavenly Demon Sect as we searched for information.”

“Mm, alright, you may withdraw,” Demon Saint Jiuyuan waved his hand.

“Yes,” the Heavenly Demon withdrew.

Demon Saint Jiuyuan pondered alone.

A moment later.

A group of Fifth Heaven Great Demon Kings entered the hall together.

“Demon Saint,” the numerous Fifth Heaven Demon Kings respectfully saluted.

“Hahaha…” Demon Saint Jiuyuan couldn't help but laugh upon seeing them. “It seems all of you have successfully broken through. In the human world, our demon race's strength will be even greater.”

“Without the Emperors' blessings, perhaps only a small fraction of us would have been able to break through normally,” the leading Three-Headed Serpent Great Demon King chuckled. “With their blessings, all twenty-three of us were able to successfully break through in one go after entering the human world.”

Demon Saint Jiuyuan nodded slightly. “The entire Demon Realm only managed to select these twenty-three of you. With twenty-three Fifth Heaven Demon Kings now, our chances of winning this war are much greater.”

“Demon Saint, how should we proceed now?” they all asked, looking at Demon Saint Jiuyuan.

Demon Saint Jiuyuan smiled. “Rest assured, the Emperors have already made arrangements. As for you twenty-three, you will separately ambush twenty-three major cities within the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Black Sand Dynasty. A group of Fourth Heaven Demon Kings will initiate the attack, and you will follow. One overt, one covert! If only Marquis God-demons are guarding the city, you will work together, overt and covert, to eliminate them all. If powerful King God-demons are guarding it, you must immediately retreat. The safety of you twenty-three is paramount.”

These twenty-three Fifth Heaven Great Demon Kings had been rigorously selected, and the demon race greatly trusted them.

Each of them had been bestowed with precious treasures!

After all, finding a Fourth Heaven Great Demon King close to a breakthrough was truly difficult.

“Understood,” the Fifth Heaven Great Demon Kings all nodded.

“These are your individual operational plans.” Demon Saint Jiuyuan waved his hand, and twenty-three scrolls appeared in mid-air, flying towards each of the twenty-three Fifth Heaven Great Demon Kings.

“Your individual operational plans must not be divulged to any other demon kings. Anyone who dares to inquire will be considered a traitor to the race,” Demon Saint Jiuyuan commanded. “Now, all of you return and prepare. You will be sent off soon.”

“Yes,” the Fifth Heaven Great Demon Kings all respectfully assented.

Demon Saint Jiuyuan watched them leave, a look of anticipation in his eyes. “With the Emperors’ strategies, even if the human race possesses some accumulated means, they are bound to utterly collapse.”

(Tomato here, wishing everyone a Happy New Year, great fortune in the Year of the Rat, and may all your wishes come true!)(During the New Year holiday, Tomato will also take a good rest, from New Year's Eve to the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, a five-day break. Tomato will resume updates on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year!)