Chapter 608: This Time Coming to Demon City Is Worth It, Next Time for Building the Country I'll Come Again

The Tribulation Period great demon realized the master-servant mark had vanished and promptly retreated from the battlefield where half-immortals were clashing. Otherwise, they wouldn't even know how they died. Furthermore, even if Jiang Lianyi were defeated, what if the Qilin Immortal appeared for reckoning? Grand Supreme Zhutian, no matter how strong, was still no match for an immortal.

Some were genuinely loyal to Zhutian, believing that victory would secure their immense future and be seen as a founding contribution. The elder of the Emperor River clan, in particular, was devoted to Zhutian. As Zhutian was their ancient ancestor, the elder felt compelled to offer assistance, both emotionally and logically.

The elder had also invited the "wolf into the house" by summoning the true Heavenly Court Sect. When accounts were settled later, he would be the first to face consequences.

Now was still the time to redeem themselves through meritorious service. Both the Old Ancestor of the Nine Infants clan and the Patriarch of the Taotie clan saw this as an opportunity. As the first and second to pledge allegiance to the Emperor River clan, they were essentially in the same boat.

The three great demons briefly exchanged thoughts via divine sense, confirming their shared intentions. As they turned to go support Zhutian, the sky above them suddenly darkened. Three colossal figures loomed, and a voice asked, "Where are you three going?"

The Emperor River clan elder looked up, glaring fixedly at the three enormous figures, and bit out their name through clenched teeth: "Jiang Mingzi!"

The Old Ancestors of the East Sea Dragon clan, the Demon Realm Dragon clan, and the Phoenix clan stepped forward to confront them. The Emperor River clan elder turned to appeal to the other seven Tribulation Period great demons for aid. However, these seven demons acted as if they hadn't heard, clearly intending to remain neutral. They reasoned that the principle of "the law not punishing the masses" meant they wouldn't be held accountable regardless of the outcome, so there was no need to get involved in the turmoil. Furthermore, having been forcibly controlled by Zhutian, they harbored significant resentment and actually hoped Jiang Lianyi would emerge victorious.

"Bastards!"

The Emperor River clan elder could clearly see their intentions and cursed them inwardly.

"Roar!"

The Old Ancestor of the Demon Realm Dragon clan struck first, transforming into a colossal azure dragon ten thousand zhang long. It converted clouds into rain and rain into water, unleashing an assault on the Emperor River clan elder. The Old Ancestor of the East Sea Dragon clan, meanwhile, targeted the Old Ancestor of the Nine Infants clan. He released an unending torrent of seawater from his storage ring, merging with it to become a terrifying sea dragon whose single claw could shatter mountains. The Nine Infants clan was seen as the culmination of snake-kind; dragons and serpents have vied for dominance since ancient times.

Jiang Mingzi produced a grand banner, which unfurled to reveal a painting of a phoenix crying on Mount Qishan. This was the Five Virtues Banner, a supreme treasure bequeathed by their ancient ancestor.

He had previously kept the supreme treasure hidden, fearing others' covetous gazes. But with the ancient ancestor's return, he decided there was no better time to deploy it.

"Damn it!"

The Patriarch of the Taotie clan felt his scalp tingle upon seeing Jiang Mingzi fight seriously.

He was a newly ascended Tribulation Period cultivator, while Jiang Mingzi was a seasoned late-stage Tribulation Period master. The power gap was astronomically wide, especially with Jiang Mingzi wielding a supreme treasure.

Given the situation, he had no choice but to brace himself and fight.

On the Heavenly Altar, seeing the imminent clash between the two half-immortals, Lu Yang and Zhu Yunwu leaped down without hesitation.

"Immortal Extinction Cataclysm Dance!" Zhutian began to dance, his steps imbued with destruction and ruin. The entire demon city shook, truly resembling the end of the world.

The power of this dance was vastly superior to the one performed by controlling Zhu Yunwu. Raging floods coalesced into water tornadoes, with eight forming at the Eight Trigram positions, blocking all escape routes. Jiang Lianyi extended her delicate hand and, with a flick of her wrist, produced a jade flute. This was the King Flute, which had been hanging on the fourth-floor wall of the Ancient Creation Realm, a testament to Jiang Lianyi's deep affection for it.

Her vermilion lips gently touched the blowhole, her fingertips poised on the finger holes. She closed her eyes in concentration, her long hair swaying in the gentle breeze, playing with captivating devotion. The clear flute sound penetrated the blockade of the eight water tornadoes, and it was as if the entire world fell silent, not a single sound remaining.

If the eight water tornadoes represented ultimate motion, then the clear flute sound was ultimate stillness. When motion and stillness converged, there was a sudden *crack*, and the temperature plummeted. The eight water tornadoes began to freeze from their bases, instantly transforming into towering ice pillars. The temperature throughout the demon realm dropped to zero degrees, causing the observing cultivators to exhale visible breaths.

"Go!"

Jiang Lianyi lowered her jade flute, hooked her index finger, and flicked it upward. Astonishingly, the eight frozen water tornadoes shattered into ice shards, coalescing into long dragons that hurtled towards Zhutian.

"Space, solidify!"

Zhutian roared, and the space above his head rapidly compressed, forming a spatial barrier that withstood the barrage of ice shards.

The onlookers saw that the combatants' attack range extended beyond the Heavenly Altar, with residual energy sweeping towards them. They promptly retreated to the demon city gates to observe the battle, still holding their recording orbs firmly, determined to capture every moment of the event.

The recording orbs had been activated from the very beginning of the founding ceremony, capturing the entire grand event.

Watching the breathtaking battle unfold above the demon city, Qiu Jin'an's eye twitched. "I initially came to see the excitement of the Ancient Emperor River establishing a nation," he muttered. "How did it transform in the blink of an eye into the Ancient Heavenly Court causing chaos in the demon city, then a fight between two half-immortals, and now a duel involving six Tribulation Period great demons?"

The rapid shifts were almost too quick for him to process. He then recalled Bai Ming's descriptions of the incidents at the Qingzhou Grand Ceremony and the Battle of Hanshui City, noting a common characteristic in both events.

Qiu Jin'an leaned sideways and discreetly asked the Grand Elder, "Where is Lu Yang from your sect?"

The common thread in both incidents was the presence of both Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

The Grand Elder, naturally, could not reveal Lu Yang's whereabouts. He replied without a change in expression, "He had something important to attend to and couldn't make it."

Qiu Jin'an nodded, realizing that Meng Jingzhou seemed to possess a disaster-attracting constitution. Others present were also exclaiming, stating they had never imagined witnessing a half-immortal battle in their lifetime. Their trip to the demon city had been well worth it, and they would certainly return if the demon nation ever decided to establish another kingdom.

"This is one of the applications of the rudimentary Dao Fruit of the Law of the Jungle," the Immortal Fairy explained to Lu Yang. While laymen merely watched the spectacle, only she, as an expert, could truly discern the profound techniques and understand the intricacies of the two combatants' methods.

"The rudimentary Dao Fruit of the Law of the Jungle isn't just about controlling people," she continued. "Spiritual energy, spells, and even inanimate objects are all within its scope of control. Lianyi manipulating Zhutian's tornadoes and Zhutian controlling space are both perfect examples."

Lu Yang's expression was peculiar. He thought of a certain fallen ancient mighty figure and remarked, "Why does it sound so similar to 'Decree by Word'?"

"There's still a difference," she replied. "The rudimentary Dao Fruit of the Law of the Jungle can only control those weaker than oneself, whereas 'Decree by Word' can control even stronger beings. It's truly a shame; that person actually had a significant chance of becoming an immortal, perhaps by developing a Dao Fruit similar to 'Decree by Word,' which wouldn't have conflicted with the Qilin Immortal's Dao Fruit."

"A pity they couldn't control their mouth."

The Immortal Fairy shook her head regretfully, reminiscing about a former opponent. Patriarch Jin, meanwhile, felt a pang of sorrow that their young ancestor wasn't present to witness such a magnificent battle and would have to rely on his oral recounting. *Wait*, he thought, *oral recounting?*

Patriarch Jin's face instantly blanched. He suddenly recalled that their young ancestor had specifically instructed him to record the event using a recording orb.

He had arrived in such a rush that he'd immediately heard the Grand Elder expose his past misdeeds and completely forgotten about the recording. Hastily trying to rectify his oversight, he turned to the Patriarch of the Baxia clan and asked, "Good sir, that's an excellent item. Could I get a copy of your recording orb?"

The Patriarch of the Baxia clan scrutinized Patriarch Jin from head to toe. "Do you have money?" he asked.

Patriarch Jin gritted his teeth, feeling a pang of regret; a copied recording orb certainly wouldn't be cheap. "Perhaps not then," he muttered. "I'll just give our young ancestor an oral account."

As the two spoke, a thunderous crash echoed. Zhutian had fallen from the Heavenly Altar, leaving a large crater. Patriarch Jin looked at the prostrate Zhutian and declared, "I'll buy it!"

"The price has gone up," the Baxia Patriarch responded.