Chapter 669: Injured Bindri

In the demon territory of Taihuangtian, Lu Li resigned to Fu Riluo, saying, "Exalted King, I have been away from Youdu for too long and must return. I will lead the army away today."

Fu Riluo frowned slightly. "Elder Sister, you haven't captured the Youdu God Child yet. Why the rush to leave?"

"The guests from Mingdu won't give me a chance to catch the Youdu God Child. While I am obsessed with obtaining the Youdu God Child's power, I also know my limits. My strength is simply no match for Mingdu, so I choose to retreat."

Lu Li hesitated for a moment. "Exalted King, we are both demons. Before I leave, I have three pieces of advice for you."

Fu Riluo asked curiously, "Please speak, Elder Sister."

"My first piece of advice is patience; endure everything. My second is to withdraw; a turtle lives long because it knows how to pull in its head. My third is loyalty; loyalty ensures no fault. Farewell!"

Lu Li shrieked loudly. Countless Youdu demonic creatures suddenly turned into black smoke and dispersed, while Lu Li's figure spun, gradually sinking into the ground until she vanished.

***

The Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge.

Qin Mu finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Human Emperor, First Ancestor, had gone to the celestial body and instructed the gods and devils from the Hanging World there to slow their entry into Yankang. Only then did the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge stabilize, no longer in danger of collapsing from excessive energy transfer.

Only then did he feel a sharp pain in his chest. Lou Qianzhong had inflicted two wounds, piercing his chest. He had destroyed the central tine of the steel fork, which had been aimed directly at his heart. Although the other two tines had also pierced him, they had avoided his vital organs. This was the main purpose of his third sword light: to eliminate the fatal threat and preserve his life.

Lou Qianzhong was exceptionally powerful after all. Although Qin Mu had avoided vital areas, the damage inflicted was still significant. Dragon's Saliva alone could not heal it, as remnants of Lou Qianzhong's divine ability still lingered in his wounds and needed to be expelled. Qin Mu treated his wounds, expelling the remnants of Lou Qianzhong's divine ability. He activated the Boundless Creation Sutra and combined it with Dragon's Saliva. With this two-pronged approach, he finally felt some relief.

There was a commotion beside the Transfer Bridge. Qin Mu approached and saw that the divine ability practitioners guarding the bridge had blocked Qi Jiuyi and Zhe Huali. Seeing Qin Mu approach, a guard quickly said, "Cult Master, these two are from the demon race, clamoring to cross the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge into Yankang."

Qin Mu chuckled. "Elder Brothers, you've come all the way to human territory and still want to go to Yankang. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

Zhe Huali shook his head. "Brother Qin, you're not that kind of person. When it comes to martial world rules, in a one-on-one fight, I fear no one among humans except you. And you were injured fighting Lou Qianzhong, so you might not be my match."

"Who said anything about martial world rules?" Qin Mu was puzzled. "I'm wearing the official uniform of Yankang Nation, so of course, I'll follow the court's rules. And Yankang's court rules say that when fighting, there are no rules."

Qi Jiuyi grew tense, glancing around and then looking up. Qin Mu became suspicious. Qi Jiuyi's glances around were to see if he would truly order an attack to beat them to death, but what was he looking at when he gazed skyward? He looked up at the sky but saw nothing unusual.

"Why do you two Elder Brothers insist on entering Yankang? The celestial body is currently entering Yankang, and the transfer energy is enormous. If you cross the Transfer Bridge, it will only add more energy." Qin Mu said with utmost sincerity, "Give me a reason, and I might agree."

Zhe Huali also didn't know why Qi Jiuyi was so set on going to Yankang, so he looked at Qi Jiuyi upon hearing this. Qi Jiuyi's expression flickered, then he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Cult Master Qin, although I am a disciple of the Black Emperor of Mingdu, I have always disapproved of Mingdu's actions and methods. I have principles, things I will and won't do, but they will stop at nothing! Their actions are too ruthless, too vicious. Since we are begging passage to save our lives, I have no choice but to lay bare what they intend to do."

Qin Mu listened patiently. Others were busy continuing to reinforce the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, led by True God Pang Yu, who used his magic power to control the bridge's vibration frequency. True God Pang Yu had also learned many arcane calculations over the past few years, but his mastery wasn't very high. He could only stabilize the bridge with his immense magic power; repairing runes was beyond him.

Qi Jiuyi continued, "Although you also possess a Scroll of Life and Death, you have no idea of its true power. Mingdu's Scroll of Life and Death can control life and death and awaken the deceased. This treasure was personally forged by the Black Emperor of Mingdu. No matter whether a deceased person's soul chamber is hidden in Mingdu or Youdu, it will be forcefully summoned by this Scroll of Life and Death."

Qin Mu's heart skipped a beat. "The Scroll of Life and Death has such an ability? Does this mean Lou Yunqu and the others can mobilize all the deceased from Taihuangtian to fight for them? Those three could be equivalent to an endless army of gods and devils?"

"More than that!" Qi Jiuyi stated, "Their target isn't Taihuangtian; it's Luofutian!"

Qin Mu cried out, "Teacher Woodcutter is in danger!"

Qi Jiuyi's phoenix tail feathers at the back of his head quivered uneasily. He shook his head. "Brother Qin, you're too naive in your understanding of ruthlessness and malevolence. Mingdu stops at nothing. Not only will they dissolve the agreement with Earth Lord and shatter the peace treaty between demons and humans, but they also intend to destroy Taihuangtian and wipe you all out!"

Qin Mu's mind reeled. "You mean... Lou Yunqu and the others will perform a blood sacrifice on Luofutian and make Luofutian collide with Taihuangtian! Impossible! Wouldn't that offend even the demon race, leading to countless demon casualties? Fu Riluo, he..." His voice echoed around, and everyone reinforcing the altar stopped what they were doing, turning their heads to look at them.

"That's why I said you're too naive." Qi Jiuyi looked up at the sky again and quickly said, "Does the Celestial Court care about the survival of the demon race or Fu Riluo's attitude? The Celestial Court doesn't care, and Mingdu cares even less. I've said my piece. Can this information buy Zhe Huali and me a chance to live?"

Qin Mu's mind was in turmoil. He waved a hand and said in a hoarse voice, "Let them through, let them go..."

"Thank you!" Qi Jiuyi bowed, then quickly pulled the dazed Zhe Huali with him to the top of the altar, entered the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, and the two vanished.

Qin Mu's mind was a tangled mess. He suddenly called out loudly, "True God Pang Yu, True God Pang Yu!"

True God Pang Yu was nearby, already stunned by what he had heard. He quickly responded, "Cult Master Qin, is what Qi Jiuyi said true?"

Qin Mu said gravely, "Regardless of whether it's true or not, there's no need to defend Taihuangtian anymore! True God, immediately mobilize the garrison troops from Li City, Mingyi City, and other cities. Have them come here at once and migrate into Yankang!"

True God Pang Yu hesitated. "What if Qi Jiuyi's information is false? Wouldn't we be handing over Taihuangtian for nothing?"

Qin Mu said coldly, "If it's true, countless Taihuangtian soldiers will die horribly if they don't evacuate!"

True God Pang Yu gritted his teeth and flew away.

Qin Mu's mind was still somewhat chaotic. He looked up at the sky, then at the divine cities like Li City and Mingyi City, and then at the slowly moving Chiyan Celestial Body. Suddenly, he shouted, "Keep reinforcing the Transfer Bridge! Don't just stand there, hurry up and reinforce it!" Dao Master Lin Xuan and the others realized the urgency and quickly redoubled their efforts.

Qin Mu paced back and forth. He stopped, took out his Scroll of Life and Death, and gritted his teeth. "How is this thing used? Lou Yunqu of Mingdu can unleash the power of the Scroll of Life and Death; why can't I?" He tried repeatedly, but the Scroll of Life and Death in his hands could only display names; it couldn't revive the dead.

Just then, the sky suddenly grew much brighter. Qin Mu looked up, his heart slowly sinking. He saw fiery streams in the sky—a vast burning continent inverted above Taihuangtian. Luofutian.

The entirety of Luofutian was engulfed in fire and destruction. The ground trembled, volcanoes erupted, and lava spread across the entire continent. The oceans had evaporated, turning into thunderclouds filled with countless lightning storms!

Around the altar, everyone looked dazed, staring blankly at the sky. The scene was so magnificent and shocking that they couldn't help but watch, forgetting everything else.

"Reinforce the altar!" Qin Mu roared, rousing everyone.

Everyone came to their senses and quickly resumed reinforcing the altar. Meanwhile, the celestial body in the sky was accelerating its entry into Yankang, putting even greater pressure on the altar. Clearly, the gods and devils from the Hanging World had also noticed the anomaly outside the heavens and were trying to leave before Luofutian fell.

Li City was the closest. True God Pang Yu immediately used his power to transport the troops from Li City. Other Taihuangtian gods and devils also mobilized, rushing to other divine cities, moving their armies to the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge. Qin Mu immediately ordered the divine ability practitioners of Taihuangtian to enter the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge. The pressure on the bridge dramatically increased. The surrounding ground continuously cracked, forming bottomless abysses, with only the Transfer Bridge still standing tall.

At this rate, the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge wouldn't last much longer.

"Let the divine ability practitioners go first! Gods and devils stay!" Exalted God Sang Ye shouted loudly, "Senior Brothers, go to the other divine cities!" Many deities left, hurrying to transport more divine ability armies from various other cities. The area near the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge was already packed with throngs of people, all waiting to enter.

The spirit energy spewing from the Transfer Bridge became even more intense, its light piercing the heavens, brighter than Luofutian undergoing the blood sacrifice. The bridge's vibrations also grew more violent, and the surrounding earth roared repeatedly!

Ma Rulai, the Village Chief, and others rushed over, using their magic power to suppress the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, significantly reducing the pressure on Xu Shenghua, Dao Master Lin Xuan, and the rest. Xu Shenghua, Dao Master Lin Xuan, and the others immediately focused all their efforts on repairing the shattered runes.

Qin Mu quickly took out his spiritual artifact for measurement and calculation, observed Luofutian's falling speed, and swiftly calculated when and where Luofutian would collide with Taihuangtian. A moment later, he dejectedly put the artifact down.

"Only two hours left..."

The collision point was vast, encompassing the central region of Taihuangtian, near Li City, stretching over a hundred thousand li, including dozens of divine cities of various sizes. Both human and demon territories would be directly crushed by Luofutian! He felt a profound sense of powerlessness. A collision of this magnitude was something he, a mere mortal, could not possibly withstand.

Just then, Qin Mu suddenly saw figures soaring from the celestial body, rushing towards the falling Luofutian. Simultaneously, beams of light shot up from the demon territory, heading directly for Luofutian—these were the gods and devils from the Hanging World and the demon gods from the demon race! These gods and devils were using their powerful bodies and magic power to forcibly resist Luofutian, attempting to divert it from its intended trajectory!

From Luofutian came earth-shattering roars. Hundreds of gods and devils, their bodies contorted and strained, exerted all their might to strike Luofutian. Even as their skin tore and muscles ripped, they found it hard to change Luofutian's downward momentum, but they did manage to slightly impede its fall. Luofutian gradually tilted, like a colossal disc, continuing its descent towards Taihuangtian.

Time ticked by. More and more divine ability practitioners entered the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge, while armies of practitioners from other divine cities were continuously transported. Most of the celestial body in the sky had also entered Yankang.

Suddenly, fiery rain began to fall from the sky—fragments of Luofutian. Mountain-sized chunks of molten rock rained down, millions of fiery stones streaking across the sky, trailing thick smoke as they hurtled towards the continent of Taihuangtian.

In the demon territory, Fu Riluo rushed around, transporting demon divine ability practitioners from various demon cities, bringing them to Sheke City, the strongest defensive stronghold. Other demon gods were performing similar actions, but Fu Riluo and the others only transported divine ability practitioners from the higher demon races, ignoring the wailing and lamenting of the lower castes. There was no emotion in Fu Riluo's eyes as he mechanically did what he believed he should do.

He arrived at Xian City, which was unusually quiet, lacking the chaos and turmoil he had seen in other cities. Xian City was peaceful. Although its demon residents had come out onto the streets, no one made a sound. He saw a mother on the street holding her child, looking up at the sky, burying the child's face in her embrace. He also saw lovers tightly embracing, and many demon families huddled together, their faces serene as they gazed at the sky.

In the sky, a massive fragment trailed raging flames as it descended towards Xian City. In their eyes, the fragment grew larger and larger, its fiery glow becoming more intense, reflecting crimson on their faces.

"Run!" Fu Riluo shouted to them.

None of his people responded. The mother softly comforted the child in her arms, not looking at their Exalted King.

Boom—

The Luofutian fragment crashed down. Xian City was reduced to ashes. All the demons in the city were instantly torn apart by flames and explosions, vaporized. The horrific explosion hurled Fu Riluo hundreds of miles away. Fu Riluo crashed into a mountain range, lying on his back, staring blankly at the shattered sky.

He stood up, his body stained with blood, and suddenly, like a wounded old wolf, let out a mournful roar towards the sky. "Ah, ah, ah—" His three faces twisted grotesquely, and heart-rending screams erupted. Initially, they were short and weak, as if he had no strength, but then the cries grew longer and more agonizing.

This scene was almost identical to when Qin Mu, drifting on a paper boat in Youdu, saw the Demon King Dutian standing on the ruins of a destroyed world, letting out a desperate shriek—a cry filled with trauma and helplessness.