Chapter 67: War-torn Dongning Prefecture

Under the leadership of the Jade Yang Palace Lord, many soldiers and veterans were slowly pressing the monsters, causing them to flee in greater panic.

"While killing monsters is important, preserving our own lives is even more so," shouted a leading human expert. "What we need to do is force the monsters to leave Dongning Prefecture faster. It's best to use bows and arrows or throw short spears to minimize close combat."

Following the shouts from various locations, the soldiers and veterans of Dongning Prefecture skillfully pressured the monsters. Slow-moving monsters were easily surrounded and killed, making the others flee even more desperately.

"Run!"

"Flee!"

"Divine fiends are here, where are our demon kings?"

"The demon kings must have been defeated; otherwise, they wouldn't retreat." The monsters' morale completely collapsed, and they fled frantically.

The Jade Yang Palace Lord indeed intervened occasionally, targeting the stronger individuals among the demon race.

"There are too many ordinary monsters; if we don't give them a way out, they'll scatter and cause trouble everywhere... that would be a huge problem. However, none of the demon commanders-in-chief should escape, and demon commanders should be killed whenever possible." Whenever the Jade Yang Palace Lord spotted a demon commander-in-chief, he would immediately rush over. As soon as he got within a hundred zhang, wisps of silk threads would easily cut and kill them.

"The commander-in-chief is dead."

"The commanders are dead too." The remaining monsters fled in even greater panic.

With one side retreating frantically and the other pressing on with a divine fiend in command, all the monsters fled back to the demon world within half an hour.

"The invasion is over."

Meng Chuan and his father, Meng Dajiang, walked together on the streets, observing various parts of the city.

The area near the 'world entrance' was the most devastated, with heavy casualties. Other areas fared relatively better because those below the Marrow Cleansing realm had hidden deep within large underground tunnels early on. Furthermore, due to the short duration of the invasion, the monsters hadn't had time to dig open those large tunnels. Only a few thousand individuals, those at or above the Marrow Cleansing realm, had actually participated in the battle.

Among these few thousand people, approximately one thousand were killed in battle.

However, the area near the world entrance was tragically massacred, with nearly ten thousand people killed.

Moreover, many parts of the city suffered damage during the battles between monsters and human experts. Houses collapsed, taverns lay in ruins, and streets were split open with gulleys... traces of combat were everywhere.

"Dad, Mom, our shop collapsed," a child cried, looking at their ruined street-side shop.

"It's alright," the woman said, embracing her child and smiling at her blood-stained husband. "Having our family together is better than anything."

The child was still somewhat bewildered.

The husband gently embraced his wife and child, smiling, "It's truly good to be alive." In the past hour, he and his companions had killed three monsters, and he had survived without losing any limbs. He felt very fortunate.

"Hahaha, Dongning Prefecture has survived this ordeal! We can expect decades of peace now, hahaha..." An elderly man, covered in blood and bandaged, laughed while drinking from his wine gourd, observing the many people appearing on the streets. The vulnerable ordinary citizens, who had previously hidden in the tunnels, were now emerging, bringing much-needed vitality back to Dongning Prefecture.

"Uncle Zhang, a hero!" some neighbors shouted, looking at the old man.

"Uncle Zhang, come, take these pig trotters back for soup!" A butcher, finding his shop relatively undamaged and the pork prepared that morning still intact, immediately wrapped a pair of pig trotters to give to the elder.

Meng Chuan and his father observed all this, and their moods brightened considerably.

"Divine fiends are important, but ordinary soldiers are equally important," Meng Dajiang sighed. "It's because of them that the countless monsters were held at bay, preventing the people hidden in the tunnels from being slaughtered. No matter how powerful divine fiends are, how many of them are there? Of course... the battle between divine fiends and demon kings determines the success or failure of the war. If the divine fiends lose, it's useless even if ordinary soldiers manage to hold back the demon race."

Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

For this vibrant Dongning Prefecture, and for the countless thriving human cities, he should become a divine fiend! Only by becoming a divine fiend would he possess enough power to protect all of this.

"The ancestral home."

Meng Chuan and his father arrived at the ancestral home.

White lanterns now hung at the main gate of the Meng family's ancestral home, and many clan members inside were dressed in mourning attire.

"Elder," a clan member quickly said, bringing mourning clothes.

Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang put them on.

"Let's go to Third Elder's first," Meng Dajiang said. Many Meng clan members had died this time, including four elders, not to mention those in the Transcendent and Marrow Cleansing realms.

The Third Elder was the strongest among those who died in battle, so it was appropriate to pay respects to him first.

The mourning hall had already been set up.

"You're here," Clan Leader Meng Yanping said from where he sat, looking a few years older. "Bow your head to Third Brother."

"Okay."

Meng Dajiang bowed first, followed by Meng Chuan.

After bowing, Meng Chuan rose and stepped aside, seeing the Third Elder lying there, his body respectfully prepared. He looked as if he were peacefully asleep, his expression much more serene than his usual stern demeanor.

Clan Leader Meng Yanping looked at Meng Chuan and said in a low voice, "Third Brother's greatest wish before his death was for you, Meng Chuan, to enter Yuanchu Mountain and become a divine fiend. Meng Chuan, you must live up to his expectations."

"Yes," Meng Chuan nodded, "I will."

After staying at the Third Elder's mourning hall for a while, they visited the other mourning halls one by one.

The atmosphere throughout the Meng manor was somewhat subdued, as many clan members had died. In contrast, many children remained somewhat oblivious, not fully understanding what had happened. After the demon invasion began, although there were three thousand clan members in the ancestral home, over two thousand who had not reached the Marrow Cleansing realm, including the children, had hidden in the tunnels. They had stayed in the tunnels for over half an hour before emerging, encountering no danger.

They felt that today seemed no different from any other day.

However, the numerous mourning halls set up throughout the large ancestral home, and the sight of almost the entire clan dressed in mourning, kept the young children quiet and well-behaved.

"Bow," the red-eyed parents instructed their children, telling them to bow at each mourning hall, especially for every family that had lost someone in battle.

Because the parents understood clearly: it was only because the powerful clan members had fought with their lives that they had all survived.

Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang visited every family, finally going to pay respects to their great-aunt.

"Great-aunt," the father and son said as they entered the courtyard.

Meng Xianggu sat alone in the small courtyard; she did not like to be attended to.

"Cough, cough." Meng Xianggu's face was pale, and her aura was somewhat weakened, making it difficult for her to maintain her normal appearance.

"Great-aunt, your injuries..." Meng Chuan said worriedly.

Seeing Meng Chuan, Meng Xianggu revealed a faint smile. "Meng Chuan, you're here? My injuries are nothing. I wasn't going to live much longer anyway. I'm very happy that I could fight against the demon kings and that Dongning Prefecture was saved."

Meng Dajiang also said, "Aunt, you don't need to worry about anything else. Just rest and recover well."

"Yes, rest and recover well," Meng Chuan quickly added.

Meng Xianggu had been a divine fiend for nearly eighty years. She was the pillar of the entire clan. The Meng family members were accustomed to her protection; as long as she was there, they felt secure. Without her, it would feel as if the sky had fallen on the Meng family.

"I know my own body well," Meng Xianggu said with a chuckle. "But don't worry, I'm not ready to die so soon. I will hold on... no matter what, I will last until this winter. Only when I hear the news of your successful entry into Yuanchu Mountain, Meng Chuan, will I be able to close my eyes in peace."

Just then, there was a knock at the door outside the small courtyard.

The door then opened.

Clan Leader Meng Yanping said from outside, "Third Sister, someone from Jade Yang Palace is here, looking for Meng Chuan."

"Someone from Jade Yang Palace, looking for Meng Chuan?" Meng Xianggu frowned slightly.

"Reporting to the Immortal Aunt," another person outside said respectfully, "The Marquis of Nanyun from Wuzhou's provincial capital has come to Dongning Prefecture. It is the Marquis of Nanyun's order to see Young Master Meng Chuan."

"The Marquis of Nanyun?"

Meng Xianggu was surprised. King Anhai's status was, of course, extremely high, influencing several surrounding prefectures. However, the Marquis of Nanyun was also an exceptionally powerful divine fiend, one of the foremost in all of Wuzhou. He must have arrived in response to Dongning Prefecture's distress call.

"Meng Chuan, go quickly," Meng Xianggu urged. "Dajiang, you go with him too."

"Yes," Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang replied.

The father and son immediately followed the messenger to Jade Yang Palace.