Chapter 336: Patrolling in the Mountains and Fields

Ancestor Yellow-Shaker, drinking wine, laughed: "They're simply betting on both sides. They gain advantages from us while also gaining advantages from the human race. Whichever side wins, they'll remain free and easy. We don't have conclusive evidence of their betrayal. It's also unrealistic to expect them to stand completely with us, like the Sky Demon Gate. In the human world... the human race still holds the advantage in top-tier combat power."

"We must uncover the identity of that God-Demon," Demon Saint Nine Abyss said. "We've suffered losses in surface battles, and now we're being continuously slaughtered underground. If this continues, even a million demon monarchs won't last much longer."

"I've exhausted every possible method," the black-robed man said in a low voice. "Actually, there's one method, the simplest, that will certainly reveal the identity of that mysterious God-Demon."

Demon Saint Nine Abyss and Ancestor Yellow-Shaker were both somewhat surprised.

The black-robed man continued: "A blood curse."

"'A blood curse?' Demon Saint Nine Abyss shook his head. 'It's useless. Even if a blood curse is placed on a demon monarch, it would be extremely difficult for it to attach to the killer after the monarch is slain. The Undying Domain of a Regressor God-Demon would surely block a blood curse. Even the 'Dark Star Domain' of a Marquis God-Demon could detect such foreign forces as a blood curse and prevent it from attaching.'"

"I'm talking about a blood curse capable of 'tracing karma,'" the black-robed man said.

"Tracing karma?" Demon Saint Nine Abyss and Ancestor Yellow-Shaker were startled, looking at their companion.

"No matter how the target is killed, as long as the kill occurs, the karmic trace will surely attach itself to the enemy. Unless the enemy possesses the ability to 'sever karma,' they won't be able to remove this blood curse," the black-robed man said softly. "In the Demon Realm, aside from the three Emperors, only Demon Saint Thousand Cricket can perform this technique."

Both Demon Saint Nine Abyss and Ancestor Yellow-Shaker's hearts stirred.

"Are you suggesting Demon Saint Thousand Cricket possess a body and enter the human world?" Demon Saint Nine Abyss asked. "Demon Saint Thousand Cricket is still young; it might not be willing to come to the human world."

"Hahaha, Beijue, I know you have a grudge against Thousand Cricket," Ancestor Yellow-Shaker laughed.

"I'm thinking for the good of the demon race and for the Emperors," the black-robed man said. "And we truly have no way to uncover the identity of the God-Demon from Yuanchu Mountain. Nine Abyss... you know we've exhausted all our options."

Demon Saint Nine Abyss pondered for a moment, then nodded and said: "Alright, I will report this to the Emperors. We have no other recourse; we must let the Emperors find a solution. Otherwise, that God-Demon will simply continue its slaughter."

On the evening of the ninth day of the fifth month, as night fell.

Meng Chuan and his wife were having dinner and chatting casually.

A whoosh.

A flying demon monarch descended, landing outside the hall, and respectfully saluted: "Marquis Dongning, your letter."

A letter flew towards Meng Chuan and his wife.

Meng Chuan was somewhat surprised, as flying demon monarchs usually just drop off unimportant mail and immediately depart.

Such a close handover indicated the letter's high importance.

Meng Chuan tore open the envelope and read the contents of the letter. The paper bore a True Essence mark from a Venerable, which could not be faked.

"What?" Meng Chuan's expression changed after he finished reading.

"What's wrong?" Liu Qiyue asked.

"The demon army is about to begin its hunt." Meng Chuan handed the letter to Liu Qiyue.

Liu Qiyue's expression shifted slightly as she read it. "A single mortal is worth one hundred merit points? And demon monarchs are allowed to hunt them freely?"

"This command has been issued to all demon monarchs, and Yuanchu Mountain received the news immediately," Meng Chuan said. "Seventy percent of the world's population lives outside the cities. If we merely stand by, these mortals will be ceaselessly hunted by a million demon monarchs, and fewer than one in ten will survive. We must save them!"

"According to the letter," Liu Qiyue said, looking at the message, "Yuanchu Mountain will dispatch 1,500 Great Sun God-Demons and 3,000 demon monarch retainers to constantly patrol the world. If they encounter danger, they will call for aid, and you, A-Chuan, will be dispatched."

"Yes," Meng Chuan nodded. "1,500 Great Sun God-Demons... there aren't even that many Great Sun Realm disciples within Yuanchu Mountain. Clearly... even outer sect disciples are included. Even the controlled demon monarch retainers have been mobilized. The sect has gone all out; it will not stand by and watch demon monarchs wantonly slaughter across the land."

"Three thousand demon monarch retainers... I fear nearly all of them have been dispatched," Liu Qiyue said.

"Not many God-Demons can control demon monarch retainers. Only Marquis God-Demons, Regressor God-Demons, and Venerables who cultivate the Illusionary Demon Body are capable of doing so," Meng Chuan said. "But 3,000 is nearly the maximum number that can be deployed without disrupting command arrangements."

For instance, King Duyi, Yuanchu Mountain's most potent illusionist, can control a thousand Triple Heaven demon monarch retainers by himself, which is already his limit.

Apart from the flying demon monarchs, the 3,000 retainers primarily consist of powerful Triple Heaven demon monarchs, such as mountain demons, which possess considerable overall strength.

On the morning of the tenth day of the fifth month.

Yuanchu Mountain, before Red Blood Cliff.

A large gathering of God-Demons had assembled there, each with their travel packs, ready to depart. Meanwhile, younger disciples like Meng You and Meng An watched from the sidelines.

At the forefront stood Venerable Li Guan, with the Yuanchu Mountain Master and Elder Yi beside him.

"All 523 of you Great Sun God-Demons must depart today," Venerable Li Guan said solemnly. "Millions of demon monarchs will soon be wantonly slaughtering across our homeland."

"At this critical time, your task is to slay these demon monarchs."

"In addition to you, other Great Sun God-Demons will set out directly from various cities across the Great Zhou territory."

"A total of 1,509 Great Sun God-Demons will participate in this expedition to provide aid across various regions! This includes 601 inner sect disciples and 908 outer sect disciples," Venerable Li Guan said. "Furthermore, 3,000 demon monarch retainers will also join the expedition. This time... we have deployed our full strength with a single objective in mind. Any demon monarch that dares to emerge will be killed. We will kill them until they no longer dare to show their faces!"

The 523 Great Sun God-Demons present all had battle intent and killing intent blazing in their eyes.

Some among them were white-haired, while others were still in the prime of their youth.

"From this day forward, you will brave the elements, patrol the mountains and wilderness, and relentlessly hunt down any demon monarch that dares to appear."

"You will fight ceaselessly, perhaps perishing in the wilderness, perhaps leaving no trace of your remains."

"But the human race will remember every single one of you, forever!" Venerable Li Guan said, his eyes reddened.

The battle intent of all God-Demons present surged even more fiercely.

There was no retreat.

A war of races! They had no path of retreat.

"In this war, the human race will ultimately prevail. Every one of you is a hero of the human race!" Venerable Li Guan said in a low voice. "Now, depart!"

The 523 Great Sun God-Demons immediately turned, shouldered their packs, and with swords at their sides, began descending the mountain one by one.

Many young disciples, including Meng An and Meng You, along with numerous God-Demons with the potential to become Marquis, watched in silence. Each of them yearned to join the expedition and fight alongside them. However, they first had to grow stronger and receive permission from Yuanchu Mountain before they could descend the mountain.

The forces dispatched by Yuanchu Mountain totaled 1,500 Great Sun God-Demons and 3,000 demon monarch retainers.

Black Sand Grotto-Heaven and Two World Island also dispatched their respective forces!

They would patrol this vast land, guarding the mortals.