Chapter 2342: Doomsday Arrives

Concerned about potential complications, Zu'an worked tirelessly, day and night, to construct the teleportation array.

Despite the awkwardness that might have arisen from their previous encounter and their current solitude, Jiang Luofu was too preoccupied with concern for Ji Xiaoxi and the others, who were in danger, to dwell on anything else. She stayed by his side, assisting him in various tasks. Having spent many years at the academy, she was knowledgeable and versatile, even understanding some array formations. Working together, they found the task less strenuous.

The teleportation array was finally completed before dawn the next day, half a day earlier than anticipated.

Salame had already received word and arrived with Mogad and ten of her subordinates. Zu'an carefully observed her subordinates, noting that each of them possessed cultivation levels comparable to the Flame Demon Sea Serpent he had encountered earlier. He mused that Salame was truly capable, to still command so many formidable experts even thousands of years after her father had fallen from power.

When Salame saw several elders of the True Demon Clan present, their expressions immediately changed, and they quickly surrounded Zu'an and the others. With menace in her eyes, Salame demanded, "Donal, have you betrayed me?"

The Grand Elder of the True Demon Clan and the others were even more surprised. Salame and her group were currently the top rebels, so they wondered why Donal would be associating with her.

Zu'an held Jiang Luofu by her lithe waist, enjoying her subtle scent, as he continued to play the part of the dissolute young master of the True Demon Clan. "Young Miss, you worry too much," he said. "If I had betrayed you, it wouldn't be just these few people who arrived, but the Demon Overlord himself."

Jiang Luofu's body tensed. She secretly pinched Zu'an's waist, suspecting he was using the situation for his personal gain, and she had evidence. However, in front of the demons, she could only continue to play her assigned role.

Salame and Mogad exchanged glances, both acknowledging the partial truth in his words. "What do you mean by this, then?" Salame asked.

Zu'an smiled faintly. "Our True Demon Clan elders also want to see that beautiful new world. I couldn't very well refuse them, could I?"

He hadn't originally intended to bring the True Demon Clan, but the more he thought about it yesterday, the more he felt they were hiding some secret. Eventually, on a whim, he decided to bring the Grand Elder and the others. The Grand Elder was equally ecstatic upon learning they could go to the new world; they had long grown tired of this resource-scarce underground city. He immediately summoned the other elders, and after careful selection, five individuals were chosen to go to the new world as an advance party. The thought of the beautiful new world with its inexhaustible supply of fresh prey made them all so excited they drooled. They never expected this boy, Donal, to quietly pull off such a huge surprise, truly showing more and more the demeanor of a clan leader.

"This isn't what we agreed upon at first," Salame said, her face darkening.

Zu'an was unfazed. "It's always more reassuring to have some familiar faces around."

Mogad secretly transmitted a message: "Young Miss, this boy is probably afraid we'll betray him once he's served his purpose, so he's brought some of his clan for courage."

Salame secretly sneered, "Given this boy's past behavior, I'd be more surprised if he didn't take precautions against me. But he's still too naive. If we were truly to make a move, what use would these few guys be?" There was no need for her father, the Lord of Slaughter, to emerge from seclusion and intervene; her own group, in terms of both numbers and cultivation, was considerably stronger than the True Demon contingent.

"Very well, I'll allow you to bring them," Salame declared, passionately addressing the True Demon Clan. "Let us all work together to rescue my father, and then the True Demon Clan will undoubtedly enjoy endless glory and riches..."

However, the Grand Elder of the True Demon Clan was long past the age of being swayed by empty promises. While outwardly responding to Salame with a smile, he secretly and anxiously asked Zu'an, "Rescuing the Lord of Slaughter? Young Master, why are you getting involved in something that could lead to the extermination of our clan!"

"Don't panic, Grand Elder," Zu'an said. "Given how things have progressed in the world, the Demon Overlord can no longer be relied upon. We must find another path to survival." Seeing the Grand Elder's expression, as if the sky had fallen, Zu'an found it somewhat amusing, thinking that if he were in his shoes, his own head would probably be spinning right now.

"But even if we seek another path to survival, it shouldn't be with Salame's group," the Grand Elder argued. From his demeanor, it seemed that if circumstances weren't so overwhelming, he might have already tied up Salame and presented her to claim credit.

"Didn't you say, Grand Elder, that the secret of our True Demon Clan lies in the Ancient Heavenly Court?" Zu'an persuaded. "And the Heavenly Court is in the cultivation world. Salame's group is heading to that world to rescue the Lord of Slaughter, so we can use their power to scout the path."

The Grand Elder's heart stirred. He knew that while the cultivation world was seemingly weak, it had an incredibly powerful Regent. Over the past two years, the Demon Overlord had sent numerous top experts there, none of whom had returned. Having Salame's group take the lead would indeed be beneficial. Considering the temptation of restoring their ancestors' glory, the Grand Elder finally assented to the plan.

At this point, Salame had already directed her subordinates to place a large quantity of high-grade elemental stones into the surrounding array formations. She then approached Zu'an. "Everything is ready now," she said. "The teleportation array can be activated." After all, he had built the array, and the crucial array disc was under his control.

"Wait a moment, there's one more thing," Zu'an said, glancing at Jiang Luofu beside him.

Jiang Luofu understood. She suddenly raised her hand, and a signal arrow shot straight into the sky.

Pei Mianman and the others, who were under house arrest in the palace, had long been awaiting this signal. Upon receiving it, they each took out an array disc and lightly tapped it, causing array patterns to quickly emerge nearby.

The Demon Overlord, who had been cultivating in the palace, suddenly opened his eyes and asked in a deep voice, "What's happening outside?"

Soon, a palace demon attendant entered to report, "Reporting to Your Lordship, someone outside the palace just shot a signal arrow. It appears to be some kind of secret code. We are sending people to investigate."

The Demon Overlord's brow furrowed. "I seem to feel array fluctuations within the palace," he murmured. Just as he was about to go investigate, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked towards the dome of the underground city. Rumbles of the earth shaking reverberated, and cracking sounds appeared in the dome of the entire underground city, as if it could collapse at any moment. Wisps of destructive aura descended, immediately plunging the underground city into chaos. They were all too familiar with this aura. It was this destructive power that had caused the entire world to fall, forcing them, once mighty, to repeatedly retreat until they finally hid within this city deep underground. It was the terrifying storm aura of the Doomsday Beast; it had found the underground city's location!

The Demon Overlord no longer cared about the array fluctuations in the palace. He hastily roared, "There's a problem with the underground city's defensive array! Everyone, follow me!" Immediately, he soared into the sky from the palace with the three-headed monstrous bird, heading towards the underground city's dome. The various palace demon attendants and the array masters in the palace all followed. They knew that if the defensive array was damaged, the entire underground city would be directly exposed to that destructive power. It wouldn't be long before the Doomsday Beast sensed their presence, and then none would survive.

As the demons soared into the sky, a figure stood in one of the palace's most distinguished courtyards. Wrapped entirely in a large cloak, with his face hidden in the shadow of his hood, only a hint of a playful smile could be seen at the corner of his lips. "Things are getting more and more interesting," he murmured.

Meanwhile, with the True Demon Clan: just as Jiang Luofu fired the signal arrow, Salame's subordinates instantly drew their weapons. "What are you doing!" they demanded. Their auras surged as they surrounded Jiang Luofu, ready to tear her to shreds at a single command.

Jiang Luofu's face paled slightly, but she wasn't worried, for Zu'an remained steadfastly in front of her. "Everyone, don't panic. I told her to send it," Zu'an said, his expression calm, as he shielded them from the terrifying auras.

A hint of surprise flickered across Salame's face, but her expression remained cold. "Were you just informing the Demon Overlord to capture us?" she asked. She had always been wary of such a situation, setting up secret sentries along the way to scout, and only revealing herself after confirming there were no anomalies. However, she now realized her carelessness. If Donal's group managed to delay them, the Demon Overlord could indeed arrive unimpeded, and then everything would be over. She finally understood why he had summoned the elders of the True Demon Clan; while these individuals posed no real danger, they could certainly buy time. At this thought, murderous intent filled her eyes.