Chapter 674: Decisive Battle in the Dark Clouds

"Why?" Jiang Fan asked, puzzled.

He was, in fact, already free to leave. The Silver Fox Tribe wouldn't hinder his departure, nor would the Sea Demon King or Ling Shu. The only problem was that if he left now, the Sea Demon King and her entire tribe would be implicated. It would be ideal if there was another way for him to leave legitimately.

Consort Yunxia's pretty face subtly darkened. "The reason is the bad news I'm about to tell you. The Demon Emperor has led his army south. You can take advantage of his distraction to make your escape."

Jiang Fan's heart sank! He immediately understood why the Demon Emperor had made this move. "With the ancient giant dead and the Nascent Soul expert from the Outer Realm Divine Sect gone," he said coldly, "the Demon Emperor thinks he's capable again, doesn't he?"

Consort Yunxia looked at Jiang Fan with a complicated expression. "Actually, after the disastrous defeat at Realm Mountain, the Demon Emperor had already begun mobilizing his army, preparing for a decisive battle. It was the appearance of the ancient giant that disrupted his plans. Now that things have settled, he naturally wants to march south. The demon race suffered such a terrible defeat, and the Demon Emperor lost significant face. This war is inevitable."

Jiang Fan felt a profound sense of oppression. He could imagine how brutal this war would be. It wouldn't end with the sacrifice of merely a hundred people, like the battle at Realm Mountain. At least tens of thousands would perish!

"Our Silver Fox Tribe has also received mobilization orders; the entire tribe must depart immediately for Realm Mountain," Consort Yunxia said, her mood somber. "The Demon Emperor is serious this time." The Silver Fox Tribe was destined to suffer immense losses in this war.

Jiang Fan said with a cold voice, "Is the Demon Emperor mad? What does he hope to gain by starting a war?"

A flicker of suppressed anger crossed Consort Yunxia's eyes. "Of course, it's to solidify his rule. He won't allow the surrounding tribes to become too powerful. And war is the best way to suppress these tribes."

Jiang Fan suddenly remembered. The Demon Emperor had once disguised himself as an ordinary person and posed a question to him: What should a ruler do if he feels that powerful clans are deeply entrenched and threaten his rule? Jiang Fan had offered three strategies: superior, medium, and inferior. The superior strategy was to launch a war and deplete their power! So, it turned out... the Demon Emperor had been doing this all along!

"He's using our human lives to maintain his rule?" A cold glint flickered in Jiang Fan's eyes. If he had even the slightest chance, he would kill the Demon Emperor!

Consort Yunxia smiled bitterly. "He at least can't control you humans. But it's different for us demons. As long as he's around, no one can hope to surpass him and become a Demon Emperor."

Jiang Fan stared at Consort Yunxia, suddenly realizing something. He asked in surprise, "Don't tell me... your tribulation failure was due to his sabotage?"

Consort Yunxia seemed to recall a painful memory, a hint of agony appearing on her face. She said, "What else could it be? Why else would I have rejected him without reason, never letting him touch me? A man who blocked my path to becoming a Demon Emperor and forcibly married me... how could I let him have his way?"

No wonder! No wonder the entire Silver Fox Tribe harbored such hatred for the Demon Emperor, to the point of even considering killing him. The Demon Emperor's actions were truly despicable! If Jiang Fan's breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage had been ruined by the Demon Emperor, he would hate him even more than the Silver Fox Tribe did. Not to mention forcing Consort Yunxia to marry him.

"There will be a chance." Jiang Fan said, "During this trip to the Tiger Demon Emperor's Secret Realm, try your best to find an opportunity for a breakthrough. After a period of dormancy, you will surely rise again."

Consort Yunxia hid the strange look in her eyes and said softly, "Thank you, Young Master Jiang." She didn't know what was happening to her. These were things she would never have told Jiang Fan before, but today, she had revealed everything. After experiencing a life-and-death situation, the barrier between them had suddenly vanished. Their relationship had unconsciously grown much closer.

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose. He was also a bit unaccustomed to such a gentle and virtuous Consort Yunxia. He remembered her usually getting angry after three sentences, didn't he? Yet today, she was able to confide in him.

"It seems you two are getting along well," Jiu Yinzhu's hoarse voice, tinged with a faint smile, drifted from afar. "You're chatting away and don't want to part."

Consort Yunxia felt a slight embarrassment. She bowed slightly. "Yunxia will take her leave first. Young Master Jiang, please make yourself at home." Then she quickly ran off.

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose. He went outside the cave dwelling. The Sea Demon King and Ling Shu were already waiting there. Their expressions were grave; it seemed they, too, had heard the news of the demon race marching south and the impending decisive battle.

"Brother, go to the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave dwelling without worry," Ling Shu comforted him softly. "Things will take care of themselves when they come to it. Perhaps the war will stop?"

Jiang Fan sighed faintly. This war was a war of the Demon Emperor's ambition. Unless another major event, like the sudden appearance of an ancient giant, occurred, it would be unavoidable. But he didn't want Ling Shu to notice anything. He smiled gently. "I'll take your kind words to heart."

"Are you returning to the Demon Emperor's court immediately, or will you come with me to see the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave dwelling?"

Ling Shu smiled slyly. "I haven't received any orders to go south. Why would I go back?"

The Sea Demon King cleared her throat. "I did receive orders to return. However, aren't I supposed to be watching the human captives?"

Jiang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright. Then you two can come with me to see the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave dwelling. What if you also gain something?"

The Tiger Demon Emperor's cave dwelling didn't belong to anyone exclusively. Anyone could enter the outer dwelling. As for the inner dwelling, that depended on whether you possessed a Dan Book Silver Scroll.

The group reached a consensus, then they left the sanctuary.

Jiu Yinzhu said, "Young Master Jiang, I will lead my tribe south. If the war is unavoidable, I will do my best to control my tribesmen to only injure, not kill. Please understand."

Jiang Fan bowed. "Elder Jiu's great kindness, this junior will remember it!" Asking her tribesmen to only injure and not kill meant putting them at great risk. Because the human side had not been informed beforehand, they might not be merciful if they encountered the Silver Fox Tribe. This was a truly significant act of kindness.

Jiu Yinzhu said, "This old woman hopes that if Yunxia encounters danger in the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave dwelling, you will also help her. And if there's an opportunity to break through to the Demon Emperor realm, please assist her there too."

Jiang Fan said solemnly, "Consort Yunxia saved my life. Even without your words, Elder Jiu, this junior would do so."

Only then did Jiu Yinzhu feel at ease. She said, "Good! Then we shall part ways here! I hope you all gain something from the Tiger Demon Emperor's cave dwelling."

Jiang Fan clasped his hands in farewell. After watching them march grandly southward, Jiang Fan, Consort Yunxia, Haimi, and Ling Shu set off to the north.

Three days later, in the northernmost part of the demon race's territory, a faint, salty breeze blew. Jiang Fan stood on a mountaintop, gazing at the boundless sea. He couldn't help but be slightly surprised. "So, the northern end of the demon race's territory is the ocean," he mused. "No wonder the climate gets more humid the further north you go."

Ling Shu smiled gently. "Brother, the north is a crucial region for us demons. Most of our resources come from the north. Some of these resources are transported to the Demon Emperor City and various tribes, while others are traded with the sea demon race for oceanic resources."

Jiang Fan had an epiphany. "I always wondered how the demon race thrived in such a harsh environment, where most of your territory is covered in ice and snow and nothing grows. So, you have such fertile land here." He paused, then looked puzzled again. "But why did the Demon Emperor's court choose to be located in the ice and snow then? Wouldn't this place be more suitable?"

Consort Yunxia said calmly, "Of course, it's for easier control over the various tribes."

Ling Shu nodded. "Yes! It's a strategy learned from a famous historical event in your human history, the 'Maoling Relocation Order'. It involves relocating powerful clans from across the land to resource-scarce areas. This way, their ties to their original territories can be greatly weakened, and they can also be controlled through resource allocation. I suspect Han Feidao suggested this to the Demon Emperor."

Han Feidao? A cold glint appeared in Jiang Fan's eyes. That old geezer was truly dedicated to the Demon Emperor!

Just then, the distant sea suddenly erupted with waves several yards high. A slender female figure, moving within a bubble, hastily darted out. She kept glancing behind her, looking very panicked. Suddenly, she spotted Jiang Fan on a mountain by the coast. She paused for a moment, startled. Then, as if grasping a lifeline, she swiftly sped towards him.