Chapter 335: Collusion

"Senior Sister Chang."

"Junior Sister Liu."

At Changfeng City, Liu Qiyue and Marquis Meixue reluctantly parted ways. They had supported each other for three years and forged a deep friendship.

"To fight side-by-side for three years, that was our destiny," Marquis Meixue said solemnly, her hair white. "I've fought my entire life, and I thank heaven for letting me live to almost the end of my lifespan. But Junior Sister, you are still very young. You must be extremely cautious with the 'Phoenix Nirvana' forbidden art. Even if you become a Creation Realm Godfiend in the future, you must still be very careful! While using it once might kill a powerful enemy, sacrificing decades of your life might not be worth it. If you live longer, you can do more for humanity."

"Even if it means occasionally sacrificing some ordinary mortals, the extra decades you live can save tens or hundreds of times more," Marquis Meixue said, looking at Liu Qiyue. "I hope Junior Sister will consider this carefully."

Liu Qiyue was startled.

Live for decades longer? And save tens or hundreds of times more lives?

"I understand, Senior Sister," Liu Qiyue replied.

"Junior Sister Liu, Marquis Dongning, farewell!" Marquis Meixue cupped her hands. Meng Chuan and his wife also reciprocated the gesture. Marquis Meixue then turned and, taking a pair of young Godfiends, departed with the messenger, a 'Bird Demon Monarch,' heading to a new city.

Meng Chuan and his wife watched them leave.

Marquis Meixue was also highly renowned; few lived close to their lifespan's limit during wartime. She cultivated the Canghai Fiend Body, excelling in domain control and close combat. Her strength was comparable to that of a Creation Realm Godfiend, allowing her to resist a fifth-tier demon monarch for a long time with her domain and close-quarters skills.

"That pair of young Godfiends are Senior Sister Chang's great-grandsons," Liu Qiyue explained. "Senior Sister Chang is old, and she found her family's younger generation to be quite ordinary. She managed to find these two brothers who showed some potential. Even under Senior Sister Chang's guidance, they still didn't qualify for Yuanchu Mountain. However, Senior Sister Chang used her merits to secure them a chance to enter the 'Godfiend Blood Pool' and obtain top-tier Godfiend scriptures. Both brothers cultivate high-grade Godfiend bodies, and their cultivation resources are even better than those of typical inner disciples of Yuanchu Mountain. All of this was exchanged using Senior Sister Chang's own merits. It's estimated that these two brothers are likely to become Great Solar Godfiends, but there's no hope for them to reach the Marquis realm."

"After years of warfare, it's normal to make plans for one's family when approaching the end of one's lifespan," Meng Chuan nodded, recalling his great-aunt.

After his great-aunt was severely wounded, she returned to her hometown and also worked hard to cultivate the younger generation.

Marquis Meixue likely harbored the same mindset.

"Let's go," Meng Chuan said.

"Mmm."

The couple then set off with the accompanying messenger, the 'Bird Demon Monarch.'

Meng Chuan traveled swiftly, covering thousands of miles, and soon arrived at a familiar, vast city, where most of the Meng clan members resided: Jiangzhou City.

"Jiangzhou City."

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue looked down from above.

"Sirs, the identities of guardian Godfiends must be kept secret and not revealed, to prevent discovery by the demon race," the accompanying Bird Demon Monarch messenger said respectfully, pointing to an ordinary residence below. "That residence with many peach blossoms is where you two will live."

"I still can't quite believe it," Liu Qiyue said. "Yuanchu Mountain actually assigned me to guard Jiangzhou City."

"The transfer order is very clear," Meng Chuan chuckled.

"It's a huge city with over 20 million people, after all," Liu Qiyue noted.

Although the Great Zhou Dynasty had sixty-two major cities, only about a dozen had populations exceeding 20 million.

"Ordinary major cities are frequently attacked," Meng Chuan said. "They face an assault every two or three months. However, top-tier cities are rarely attacked. In the past six months, only five top-tier cities have been attacked, each just once. Jiangzhou City was one of them. I heard that during that attack, one thousand two hundred third-tier demon monarchs assaulted it, and over one thousand one hundred died, with only dozens of demon monarchs lucky enough to escape."

"Yes," Liu Qiyue nodded.

The defensive power of top-tier cities was too strong.

Jiangzhou City had previously been secretly guarded by the Protector, 'Wang Shan'! With his Protector body, his strength was no less than that of King Zhenwu.

Out of one thousand two hundred demon monarchs, over one thousand one hundred died. This death rate was staggeringly high!

Demon monarchs were also afraid of death!

Especially after entering the human world, the demon race's control over its demon monarchs wasn't as strong, relying more on tempting them with treasures! Demon monarchs were unwilling to undertake suicidal missions.

When attacking ordinary major cities, those with strong self-preservation abilities and who were careful had a chance of survival. They were willing to do that.

But with a death rate exceeding ninety-five percent? Demon monarchs weren't willing.

"Given Jiangzhou City's track record, even if the demon race suspects a change in defense, the likelihood of them attacking Jiangzhou City again remains very low," Meng Chuan said with a slight smile. "At least here, the chances of you needing to use Phoenix Nirvana will be much lower."

Liu Qiyue nodded. She knew her husband had put in a great deal of effort to arrange her transfer to Jiangzhou City.

This transfer...

...was actually quite ingenious.

A single Marquis realm Godfiend was now guarding a top-tier major city, saving valuable combat strength.

Under the sea, a small grotto-heaven.

Old Ancestor Huang Yao, the Black-Robed Man, and Demon Saint Jiuyuan were gathered once more.

"The Great Zhou Dynasty and the Black Sand Dynasty have over a hundred major cities. Attacking thirty to forty cities each month only requires mobilizing tens of thousands of demon monarchs," Old Ancestor Huang Yao said with a laugh. "By rotating them, most third-tier demon monarchs only need to act approximately once a year. The demon monarchs have no objections."

"This pressure is sufficient," Demon Saint Jiuyuan nodded. "As for top-tier cities, occasional attacks on one or two are enough, just to ensure that these cities are definitely guarded by Creation Realm Godfiends."

The Black-Robed Man said coldly, "If a top-tier city is not guarded by Creation Realm combat power, then we will completely slaughter it."

"It's time for the second phase," Demon Saint Jiuyuan stated. "The more numerous second-tier demon monarchs have been idle; let them hunt freely! We'll set a task for all demon monarchs: for every mortal hunted, they earn a hundred merits."

"Jiuyuan, these mortals are hiding very carefully," the Black-Robed Man said. "In the wilderness, in lakes, deep within mountains, they all hide cautiously, fearing discovery by demon monarchs. From a distance, they are invisible to the naked eye."

"That's why one mortal is worth a hundred merits," Demon Saint Jiuyuan chuckled. "The demon monarchs will search every nook and cranny. If large groups of human Godfiends come out to kill demon monarchs, we can counter-attack. If only three or five powerful Godfiends occasionally come to the rescue... they won't be able to save all of humanity."

The Black-Robed Man and Old Ancestor Huang Yao both nodded.

Demon Saint Jiuyuan frowned. "Beijue, we rely on our numerical superiority of demon monarchs to suppress humanity in various ways. However, King Baiyu and that mysterious Godfiend from Yuanchu Mountain have been exploring and hunting underground... More and more demon monarchs are arriving from the demon realm, and even more are hidden underground. The number of demon monarchs they slaughter each year is greater than our losses on the surface."

"Regarding King Baiyu, the Demon Emperors already have a plan," Demon Saint Jiuyuan said, looking at the Black-Robed Man. "Beijue, the other mysterious Godfiend who explores underground has always been within the Great Zhou Dynasty. Which Godfiend from Yuanchu Mountain is it exactly? You must find out. The number of demon monarchs he slaughters each year is even greater than King Baiyu's."

"I'm investigating," the Black-Robed Man replied, also with a headache.

"There are two Creation Realm Godfiends from Yuanchu Mountain who have connections with us. Do those two Creation Realm Godfiends really not know who is exploring underground?" Demon Saint Jiuyuan asked angrily.

"They both claim not to know," the Black-Robed Man stated.

"Can't they guess? There are only so many Creation Realm Godfiends," Demon Saint Jiuyuan fumed. "In my opinion, they just don't want to tell us!"