Chapter 429: Summoning

The battle was a crushing defeat. Three of the five demon monarchs were killed, leaving only the two of them alive.

Venerable Thread pondered, saying, "Our defeat was so severe for two main reasons. Firstly, because of that mysterious Godfiend's 'Demon Cone' — that's what killed Venerable Swam and left me gravely wounded. Secondly, it was due to Meng Chuan himself. Our encirclement failed primarily because Meng Chuan's speed far exceeded our expectations. My Spatial Spider Silk domain was completely ineffective, making it impossible for us to form a proper encirclement."

"Exactly," the burly Mountain Demon couldn't help but add. "His speed is terrifying, faster than many demon saints. How can a mere Marquis Godfiend be this fast?"

Venerable Thread nodded. "The rules of heaven and earth suppress speed. He shouldn't be able to move that fast."

"Did he break through the shackles of heaven and earth?" the burly Mountain Demon asked, puzzled.

"Impossible," Venerable Thread shook her head. "A saber art that breaks through the shackles of heaven and earth using speed would possess power far beyond your imagination. Even you or I wouldn't withstand a single blow! While the Peacock's physique is unique, I estimate it would also be killed after a few cuts."

The burly Mountain Demon listened, astonished.

Venerable Thread didn't elaborate further on the concept of speed breaking through the shackles of heaven and earth. Although she had never witnessed it herself, such a phenomenon was documented in the demon race's secret records. Being highly valued by the demon emperors, she had learned of this hidden truth.

"If he didn't break through the shackles of heaven and earth, how could his speed be so incredible?" the burly Mountain Demon questioned again.

Venerable Thread mused, "When I encircled him with my Spatial Spider Silk domain, I could faintly sense that the flow of time in his immediate vicinity was unusual. My guess is... he manipulated the flow of time, which made him appear incredibly fast."

As one of the highest-ranking Five-layered Demon Monarchs of their generation, surpassing some demon saints in cultivation, she had already begun to delve into the mysteries of 'time.'

"The lineage of Time?" the burly Mountain Demon exclaimed in surprise.

"It leaves no trace when used, more like a divine ability. Given his age, it's likely a divine ability," Venerable Thread stated.

As the two reflected on the battle and summarized their intelligence, they suddenly sensed something.

"Hm?" Venerable Thread and the burly Mountain Demon both flipped out their tokens.

"The Emperor wants us back?" Venerable Thread and the burly Mountain Demon exchanged puzzled glances.

Neither dared to delay, and they immediately headed towards the connection point between the World Gap and the Demon Realm.

Venerable Thread, accompanied by the burly Mountain Demon, reached the nearest connection point. She directly blasted through the dual world membrane, returning to the Demon Realm. They then rushed to the Emperor's palace. Since it was Empress Xuanyue who summoned them, they naturally headed to her palace.

"Venerable One," a Five-layered Demon Monarch, a Lion Demon Monarch, greeted them with a chuckle as they flew. "Are you also going to the Emperor?"

Venerable Thread gave him a slight nod and glance. "Are you moving alone? Haven't you been to the World Gap?"

"No," the Lion Demon Monarch chuckled. "I'm currently contacting old friends, preparing to gather a team to enter the World Gap."

"The Emperor is also summoning those who haven't been to the World Gap?" Venerable Thread frowned slightly.

Why were the Emperors summoning them? To attack the human world?

Soon, Venerable Thread, the burly Mountain Demon, and the Lion Demon Monarch arrived at the Icy Palace.

The plaza in front of the Icy Palace was already bustling with over a hundred Five-layered Demon Monarchs, and more were arriving occasionally.

"We rushed here at full speed, yet over a hundred demon monarchs arrived before us?" the burly Mountain Demon transmitted, seeing the scene. "It seems this summons is for all Five-layered Demon Monarchs across the entire Demon Realm."

"Indeed," Venerable Thread nodded.

"Venerable One."

The Goat Demon Monarch and two other demon monarchs quickly approached. They were also close allies of Venerable Thread.

"Jiaoshan, is your team down to just the three of you?" Venerable Thread asked, observing the three demon monarchs.

"Yes," the Goat Demon Monarch, looking somewhat disheveled, whispered in transmission. "Just an hour ago, our team of nine demon monarchs was cultivating in the World Gap, meditating on the scene of world creation. Unexpectedly, we encountered human Godfiends Peng Mu and Yun Jianhai. The moment they spotted us, they immediately attacked, wielding a soul mystic art—a black cone that could pierce and destroy souls. Their combined strength was immense; we crumbled on contact and scattered to escape. As you can see, Venerable One, only three of us managed to flee. The other six demon monarchs perished."

"Six killed?"

Venerable Thread frowned. "Old Lion's entire team was wiped out, three demon monarchs from my team were killed in battle, and Jiaoshan's team lost six... And all of this happened within half a day."

"Black Lion's team completely gone?" The Goat Demon Monarch and the other two were astonished.

Venerable Thread nodded slightly.

They all sensed something was amiss. While occasional skirmishes in the World Gap were not uncommon, especially when competing for treasures, and human Godfiends and demon monarchs would often clash fiercely, a series of continuous battles in such a short time, consistently resulting in crushing defeats for the demon race... that was far from normal.

"Sister Thread," a black-robed elder with a dragon's head walked over.

"Poison Dragon," Venerable Thread looked at him.

Among the Five-layered Demon Monarchs, both of them stood at the absolute pinnacle.

"I've heard that more than one team has been ambushed by human Godfiends," Elder Poison Dragon said, looking at Venerable Thread. "Was your side also attacked?"

Venerable Thread nodded.

"The humans mean trouble," Elder Poison Dragon remarked, though he seemed quite excited. He possessed an 'immortal body,' his very life essence transformed. The more chaotic the war, the happier he felt.

Another half an hour passed.

All Five-layered Demon Monarchs had now arrived!

A green-clad woman with a snake's tail approached from a distance. All the demon monarchs fell silent, recognizing her as Empress Xuanyue's personal maid and messenger.

"By Imperial decree," the green-clad, snake-tailed woman announced. "All those who engaged human Godfiends in the World Gap are to write down detailed reports and submit them to the Emperor."

"Yes," all demon monarchs respectfully affirmed.

"In just half a day, forty-three Five-layered Demon Monarchs have died in the World Gap," Emperor Xinghe stated. "Since the World Gap appeared over nine years ago, only thirty-one demon monarchs had perished in total, and some losses due to treasure disputes are normal. But to lose forty-three demon monarchs in just half a day... that's a greater loss than the past nine years combined. Even a blind person could tell this is abnormal."

"The humans know we'll try every means to send Five-layered Demon Monarchs into the human world through the connection points in the World Gap," Empress Xuanyue said. "They weren't willing to stand by and watch us prepare, so they made the first move, going into the World Gap to kill our Five-layered Demon Monarchs."

"Why is the combat so one-sided? How could so many die in just half a day?" Emperor Peng couldn't help but ask. "Did the humans distribute several Tribulation Realm secret treasures to their Marquis Godfiends?"

"We'll know once we review the intelligence reports from the demon monarchs," Emperor Xinghe replied.

The plan to dispatch Five-layered Demon Monarchs from the World Gap into the human world had long been part of the three Emperors' strategy. The three Emperors highly valued the lives of every Five-layered Demon Monarch.

Through long-term cultivation in the World Gap, the Five-layered Demon Monarchs were slowly improving. Even powerful figures like True Martial King, from the 'True Martial lineage' — for whom advancement becomes increasingly difficult in later stages — still managed to break through to the late Cavern Sky realm. For ordinary Five-layered Demon Monarchs, advancement was even more common.

The Emperors were pleased to see the demon monarchs slowly improving. Occasional, minor losses due to treasure disputes? The three Emperors could tolerate that. But losing forty-three all at once shocked the Emperors, prompting an immediate recall of all forces.

"Hm? Why can't I find any demon monarchs?"

Protector Wang Shan was still meditating within the Cavern Sky Dharma Pearl, while Meng Chuan flew alone through the World Gap, his Thunder Magnetic domain sweeping the surroundings repeatedly.

After his battle with Venerable Thread, he had conducted a meticulous search for over two days but hadn't found a single demon monarch team. This was clearly highly unusual.

"True Martial King is summoning me?" Meng Chuan flipped out his token. Since they were both in the World Gap, seeking aid from each other was relatively straightforward. True Martial King's location was displayed on the token.