Chapter 288: Ready to Go

Inside the dim hall, tables were laden with bountiful food as the Black Snake Great Demon King and five others ate, drank, and chatted leisurely.

“Our demon race has largely favorable odds in this war,” the White-Browed Wolf Demon King said, taking a sip of wine, “but I wonder if we’ll survive.”

“The Demon Emperor has given the order; who among us dares to defy it?” the Black Crocodile Great Demon King sneered, taking a huge bite of roasted meat the size of half a human. “Still, we are Four-Heavens Demon Kings; the demon race won’t easily send us to our deaths.”

“After all, it’s a complete world, and many Human Emperors have been born in its history.”

The Red Fox Demon King chuckled softly, “From the perspective of the demon race, conquering a complete world is worth sacrificing the majority of the current generation of demons. From the perspective of the three majesties, if they completely conquer the human world, the treasures left behind by the Human Emperors in human history will also fall into their hands. Presumably, the accumulation of an entire world is something the three majesties value greatly.”

“It’s us who suffer for it,” the Demon King with the giant turtle shell grumbled. “We have to charge forward and fight the humans to the death.”

“Don’t put it so grimly,” the smallest, the Rat Demon King, said cheerfully, sipping his wine. “If we achieve great merit, the Demon Emperors will also bestow grand rewards.”

The six Great Demon Kings were all overlords in their own right within the Demon Realm.

Yet, with a single command from the Demon Emperor, they had to obediently come to war. The six of them were assigned and arranged into a single squad.

“They’re here,” the Black Snake Demon King whispered, looking up towards the hall’s entrance. An envoy entered from outside, smiling as he looked at the six Great Demon Kings before him, and holding a token, he directly stated: “Great Demon Kings, the Demon Sage has commanded: you are to depart immediately.”

The Black Snake Demon King casually tossed the bone he was holding, and as his massive body rose, his vertical pupils glanced at the envoy. He bowed slightly, cupping his hands: “We respectfully obey the Demon Sage’s command.”

“We respectfully obey the Demon Sage’s command.” The other five Great Demon Kings also rose and saluted.

“For this mission, only the Black Snake Demon King is to know the details, and they must not be revealed to the other demon kings,” the envoy continued, holding the token. “The Black Snake Demon King is simply to lead the team out. Upon reaching the destination, await further orders.”

“Understood,” the Black Snake Demon King responded in a low voice.

Only then did the envoy depart.

The Black Snake Demon King glanced at his five companions. “Everyone, it’s time for a battle.”

“Let’s go.”

“To battle.”

His five companions all rose, their eyes gleaming with fierce killing intent.

Although they were somewhat dissatisfied with the Demon Emperors’ coercion, they still carried out the orders. From the moment they were born, they had grown accustomed to the law of the jungle. The three Demon Emperors held the highest and strongest positions in the Demon Realm, so naturally, they had to obey.

This team of Great Demon Kings was released from a small grotto-heaven by the Nine Abyss Demon Sage.

They cautiously made their way deep underground.

“Black Snake Demon King, where are we going this time?”

“Which major city are we attacking?”

The six of them traveled through the earth, enveloped by an invisible black wind. They continuously burrowed underground, maintaining a speed slightly faster than sound.

“These are the rules set by the Demon Emperor,” the Black Snake Demon King said, shaking his head lowly. “I wouldn’t dare violate them. Just wait a few more hours; won’t you all know once we reach our destination?”

“They’re really being careful, keeping us in the dark about the target even when we’re about to move,” the Red Fox Demon King chuckled softly.

“Of course they have to be careful,” the White-Browed Wolf Demon King said. “The human race received news immediately after the Demon Emperors summoned us. The Demon Emperors fear further leaks from within the demon kings.”

“It’s strange, though,” the Black Crocodile Demon King mused. “The Demon Emperors secretly summoned us, and once summoned, they cut off all contact with the outside world. Even if there were a traitor, they shouldn’t have been able to communicate with the outside. But the news still leaked in the end. The human race’s methods for detecting information are truly remarkable.”

“After all, it’s a world where Human Emperors have been born, so their methods are naturally powerful,” the White-Browed Wolf Demon King said, nodding. His eyes, however, grew a bit colder.

They silently continued their journey underground.

Over three hours later, after a mid-journey route adjustment on the surface, they finally reached their destination.

“We’re here.”

It was midday, and the sun hung hot and bright in the sky, its rays dazzling.

Amidst a lush forest, the six Great Demon Kings emerged from underground. The surrounding area was desolate, with no signs of human habitation.

“There it is,” the Black Snake Demon King said, looking ahead. Before them stood a desolate fortress, its walls overgrown with weeds.

On the fortress gate were three large characters: Qingyu Pass.

“Qingyu Pass?” the Red Fox Demon King murmured, narrowing her eyes. “This is one of the abandoned medium-sized fortresses within the Great Zhou Dynasty. Weren’t we supposed to be attacking a city?”

“Are we attacking an uninhabited fortress?”

The other five Great Demon Kings looked at the Black Snake Demon King.

The Black Snake Demon King looked at Qingyu Pass and said: “As you may have guessed, this is Qingyu Pass, and it contains a stable, medium-sized world entrance. Soon, a large number of ordinary demon kings will surge through! Human gods and fiends are likely to appear to stop them. Our mission is to intercept and kill the human gods and fiends, protecting our ordinary demon kings as they enter.”

“Intercepting gods and fiends?” The five Great Demon Kings exchanged glances, the White-Browed Wolf Demon King even sensing another location in the distance.

A vast wilderness.

On the peak of an isolated mountain, a long-haired man sat cross-legged. Beside him, a translucent figure of a man suddenly appeared.

“Zhao Yi.” Venerable Qin Wu looked at his beloved disciple, his gaze softening considerably. He knew very well the extent of his disciple’s sacrifice.

“Master,” the translucent figure said respectfully, “the Four-Heavens Demon King team I’m with received orders, and after traveling for over three hours, we’ve arrived outside Qingyu Pass!”

“Arrived at Qingyu Pass?”

Venerable Qin Wu frowned. “What is your mission?”

“A million demon kings will surge in from world entrances across the land,” the translucent figure said. “The demon race suspects the human race might dispatch gods and fiends to obstruct them. Our demon king team’s mission… is to intercept and kill those gods and fiends. Attacking cities is important, but the demon race also places great importance on protecting the million demon kings as they enter the human world.”

Venerable Qin Wu nodded slightly.

“That is all this disciple knows. This disciple will take his leave now.” The translucent figure bowed respectfully, then dissipated.

“World entrances, intercepting gods and fiends?”

Venerable Qin Wu murmured softly, “Seven hundred Four-Heavens Demon Kings, in teams of six, make less than one hundred and twenty squads. Yet there are over two hundred medium-sized world entrances across the land. Even if they wanted to intercept, they couldn't intercept the gods and fiends at all world entrances.”

“From the demon race’s perspective, the first strike by the Four-Heavens Demon Kings would primarily aim to kill as many Marquis Godfiends as possible. Their secondary objective would be to protect the million demon kings as they enter.”

“For us, a million demon kings pose a great threat. But for the demon race, another million demon kings will have multiplied in a few decades.”

“However, we must slightly increase our rescue forces at the world entrances.”

As Venerable Qin Wu pondered, his avatar residing in Yuanchu Mountain informed Venerables Li Guan and Luo Tang of the situation. They quickly made subtle adjustments to the overall strategy. At this stage, it was too late for major changes; all arrangements across various locations were already in place.

Inside that concealed small grotto-heaven.

“One hundred and twelve teams have now reached their destinations,” the black-robed figure said with a smile, standing to the side. “Twenty-three Five-Heavens Great Demon Kings have also long since arrived. All other arrangements are in order. Everything is poised and ready, Nine Abyss. Can we launch the attack now?”

The Nine Abyss Demon Sage gazed at the massive map displayed in mid-air. The map was dotted with numerous bright points, each representing a Great Demon King.

“Begin!” the Nine Abyss Demon Sage said with a smile. “Beijue, join me in observing the outcome of this battle.”

The black-robed figure nodded slightly. “I hope this battle will decisively secure our victory.”