Chapter 142: Salvation

The Ten Thousand Demons' Nest, the largest gathering place for demons within the Daozhou Realm, borders the Sea of Lava at its easternmost edge. This endless ocean of molten rock serves as the burial ground for the Nest's fallen. After death, the bodies of all demonic warriors are cast into the Sea of Lava, where they are refined into the purest demonic essence to nourish newborn demons.

Suddenly, directly above this vantage point, a terrifying, ink-black demonic totem descended from the sky. Immediately, the skies above the Sea of Lava churned, and massive, ominous demonic clouds began to surge, unleashing a power that threatened to devour everything.

"That's... the World-Ending Demonic Tribulation! How can this be? Who unleashed such power?""Impossible! Besides Empress Alusha, only the Supremes of the Forbidden Demonic Domain possess such energy! Could it be that a Supreme-level demonic powerhouse has arrived?"

The entire demon populace of the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest, numbering a million strong, grew restless due to this unknown demonic power.

"Hahahaha! Denizens of the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest, the great Supreme Kulta of the Forbidden Demonic Domain is about to arrive! Tremble before the judgment of death!"

A terrifying voice suddenly spread from within the demonic clouds, engulfing the entire Ten Thousand Demons' Nest.

"It's Kulta... the Supreme from the forbidden demonic land in the northwest of Daozhou. He's rumored to have been dormant for over two millennia. Why has he suddenly reawakened and attacked our Ten Thousand Demons' Nest now?"

Some of the powerful demons guarding the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest raised these questions. With Empress Alusha absent, these mighty demonic warriors naturally had to defend the million demons residing there. However, the power of a Demonic Supreme was simply beyond their ability to contend with.

"Your Majesty, Empress Alusha, where are you? Only your presence can suppress such a sight..."

The inhabitants of the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest began to pray devoutly, but the dense black clouds overhead were already releasing terrifying, devouring energy.

Boom!

With the first deafening clap of thunder, a terrifying and unparalleled destructive lightning tribulation began to descend. Each subsequent explosion claimed hundreds of demonic citizens.

"No! Help!"

Common demons with low cultivation sought protection from the surrounding demonic warriors. Unfortunately, their power was ultimately limited. On one hand, they had to participate in combat to resist the invasion of the Forbidden Demonic Domain's warriors, and on the other, they had to operate defensive fortifications to ward off the rampant devastation of the Nine Heavens' lightning tribulation.

Supreme Burtai, who instigated this war, had not yet revealed himself, but his eight great demonic generals, appearing as colossal, sky-obscuring giants, had already begun to descend into the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest one by one.

"Hahahaha! Despicable ants! The Ten Thousand Demons' Nest is now a land of sin! Alusha has defied the faith of the entire demon race by bestowing the power of the Demonic Heart upon a lowly human. She has incurred the wrath of all demons. Until her return, her sins shall be atoned for by you, the demon citizens of the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest!"

In truth, these invaders were merely seeking a grand excuse to seize the Demonic Heart for themselves. The mighty giants began to wantonly trample every inch of the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest. Watching their weaker demonic brethren struggle, these malevolent beings from the Forbidden Demonic Domain seemed greatly pleased. Having been dormant for millennia, this was their first foray into battle, and they were determined to make their presence overwhelmingly felt.

"Damn it, you monsters from the Forbidden Domain, why are you attacking your fellow demons?"

"Hahahaha! Power needs to be unleashed! We possess immense strength, and we find satisfaction and grow stronger by trampling you despicable weaklings. This is the law of survival established by the Forbidden Demonic Domain: the weak shall be eliminated, while the strong will grow even stronger, thereby ruling over and conquering more weak beings!"

Boom! Explosions and the sounds of trampling echoed simultaneously. The Ten Thousand Demons' Nest could no longer recall the unprecedented prosperity it enjoyed during the Grand Feast of Bliss. The golden age meticulously cultivated by Alusha was now fading into decline.

"Lord Burtai has commanded that these despicable ants be driven towards the Sea of Lava! The Lord wishes to bathe in the true power of lava and create an immortal demonic body!"

"As you command!"

The eight great demonic generals began to move in a coordinated manner, taking heavy steps as they herded the inhabitants of the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest towards the Sea of Lava. During this time, vast numbers of warriors died beneath the generals' trampling feet. It was only when the first group of demons was pushed to the peak of the vantage point that everyone finally saw him: a colossal silhouette bathing in an endless sea of fire in the center of the Sea of Lava. Burtai, one of the true Supremes of the Forbidden Demonic Domain, had finally revealed himself.

Its body resembled a giant fireball, clearly divided into many distinct yet interconnected parts. Lacking a conventional head or facial features, every part of its form possessed powerful comprehensive sensory abilities. In short, this being had no concept of a head, torso, or limbs, and its physical form had virtually no weaknesses. As long as its life force remained unextinguished, it would be an immortal being.

The scorching flames of the Sea of Lava brought great pleasure to Burtai, the Demonic Supreme.

"You have done well, my dear generals. Now it is time to add some ingredients for me."

"Yes, Lord!"

The generals began their task. With a powerful stomp of their massive feet, hordes of Ten Thousand Demons' Nest citizens tumbled from the cliff at the peak of the vantage point into the Sea of Lava. They were liquefied alive by the terrifyingly scorching lava into pure demonic essence, which was then consumed by Burtai.

It must be said that Burtai was quite cunning, using the lives of Alusha's demons to enhance his own power. His purpose was twofold: to strengthen himself and to force Alusha to reveal herself through such brutal means. The news that the Demonic Heart could awaken the Sword of Eternity was rapidly spreading throughout every forbidden demonic land in Daozhou, also stirring the long-dormant ambitions of the Supremes. They commonly believed that acquiring the Demonic Heart would grant them supreme and endless power to rule the entire demon race. And indeed, the true might of the Demonic Heart was something even Xu Yang had not fully anticipated.

The slaughter continued. Burtai's cruelty and tyranny crushed any desire for resistance within these beings. Countless demonic lives were frantically pushed into the lava inferno, like dumplings falling into a pot, becoming components of Burtai's endless flames.

"Burtai, who gave you the audacity to act so brazenly?!"

Suddenly, a voice like thunderous fury descended from the edge of the nine heavens. The endlessly despairing souls of the Ten Thousand Demons' Nest saw hope renewed.

"Empress! It's the Empress! She's returned!""Great Empress, our eternal goddess, please come and save us!"