āPerhaps the young demonfolk in Luan Yao City did not understand what this meant.ā
But most of the demon chieftains of the Hundred Clans had witnessed Shang Jinlengās terror with their own eyes.
Now that the scene had replayed, that familiar expressionless youth remained standing there as always.
The fear that had gripped their minds in that moment was magnified infinitelyāthey had already forgotten how to resist.
For a time, the city echoed with the agonized screams of countless demonkind.
On the ramparts, the cat demons Zhuo Kong and Zhuo Yi stood side by side, silently watching it all unfold.
āBrother,ā Zhuo Yi asked with a grave expression āare we just going to watch him like this? The orders we received in the Sanctuary were to release Shang Jinleng and bring him back.ā
Zhuo Yi had not rushed here across a thousand miles merely to offer free assistance. Completing the mission and earning contribution points were their priorities.
Zhuo Kong replied coldly āWhat can we do by watching? Didnāt we just try to persuade him? Let him make a sceneāonce heās done, heāll return with us. For now, we wait.ā
Zhuo Yi glanced at the distant youth and sighed.
āIndeed, it seems thatās our only option.ā
To put it bluntly, the two brothers might excel in array formations, but in terms of sheer strength, neither of them combined could match Shang Jinleng.
That was the true reason they had never considered forcibly taking him away.
A beam of five-colored divine light descended from the sky, instantly shattering a large hole in the cobweb above.
Nangong Jingtang appeared, alighting from the heavens!
At her arrival, the demonfolk of Luan Yao City knelt and worshipped.
In their eyes, Nangong Jingtang was the very personification of the worldās savior.
If she had once stood for them thirty thousand years ago, she surely could again now.
Shang Jinleng naturally saw Nangong Jingtang too.
His expression twisted in an instantāfor when old enemies meet, their hatred runs red-hot.
Sealed for three hundred millennia, Shang Jinlengās resentment was as vast as the heavens.
He shouted angrily āNangong Jingtangāso you still dare to look for me? Planning once more to use your life to seal me for thirty thousand years? Listen well: this time I wonāt give you any chance!ā
Nangong Jingtang could not help but sneer.
āPreviously you exchanged my life for your sealāthat ā NоvеlŃgŅ»Ń ā (Continue reading) might have been acceptable. But now that I have just found a demon partner to share my future, happiness has only just begunāhow could I ever repeat such foolishness?ā
When Nangong Jingtang did not answer, Shang Jinleng wasted no words.
He drew from his bosom a small, archaic tripod cauldron. After infusing it with demonic force, the vessel began to expand without limit.
It quickly grew into a gigantic cauldron some thirty zhang tall, hovering above Shang Jinlengās head and slowly spinning.
A violet glow poured down as if draping him in a diaphanous veilāsacred in appearance, yet a thick stench of blood permeated the air.
At that moment Nangong Jingtangās face turned extremely grim.
The Blood-Flesh Myriad Souls Cauldron!
It refined the power of blood and flesh and condensed the qi of myriad souls, endlessly supplying its master with demonic force and vitality, ensuring invincibility forever.
Thirty thousand years ago, Nangong Jingtang had been unable to kill Shang Jinleng precisely because of this superior demon-immortal artifact, and had been forced to sacrifice her life to seal him.
Now, all this time later, the blood and myriad-souls qi within the cauldron had not diminished in the slightestāif anything, it had grown.
This truly presented a dreadful challenge.
But there was no turning back for Nangong Jingtang now. She would have to risk everything: first shatter the Blood-Flesh Myriad Souls Cauldron, then attempt to slay Shang Jinleng.
With her hands weaving new gestures, the five-colored divine light descended once more.
In an instant, all of Luan Yao City was bathed in radiant illumination.
Far off, Zhuo Yi could not help shielding his eyes.
āHe wields such overwhelming demonic forceācould this truly be the power of a Demon King-Realm demon?ā he murmured.
Zhuo Kong narrowed his eyes.
āA being once praised as having the potential to become the Sanctuaryās youngest Elderāhis position was not earned by empty flattery.ā
Yet in the vast Demon Realm, geniuses were numerous; even the most brilliant talent must match it with comprehensive strength.
During the Battle of Luan Yao City, in terms of raw power Shang Jinleng had been slightly weaker than Nangong Jingtangābut his victory had come thanks to the Blood-Flesh Myriad Souls Cauldron.
Legend held that this artifact had once been an Elderās favorite treasure, nearly ascending to semi-divine status under its care.
With such a boon, how could Shang Jinleng fail to triumph?
At this, Zhuo Yi frowned.
āBrother, I never heard of this rumor beforeāwhich Elderās treasure was it? And how did it come into Shang Jinlengās possession?ā
As the two spoke, Nangong Jingtang had already fallen under Shang Jinlengās complete suppression.
Before her arrival he had replenished his cauldronās power; its might now surpassed before.
Moreover, three hundred thousand years of devouring demonkind within Luan Yao City had honed him further.
With mutual enhancement of artifact and strength, he was no longer the same as in the past.
Seeing this, Zhuo Kongās lips curved in a subtle smile.
āIt looks like the battle is almost over.ā
Just as he was about to tell his brother the Elderās name, a bolt of heavenly thunder suddenly struck, ripping open a great hole in the webs above.
Two figures descended in strange posesāone in a Superman-style flight, the other standing atop his back.
They dropped from the sky, instantly drawing every gaze present.
It was indeed Ye Yu and Qiao Wensong, who had just arrived!
At that moment Shang Jinleng, Zhuo Kong, and Zhuo Yi all froze in place.
As Envoys of the Sanctuary, they were known to every Elder.
In the brothersā memories, Elder Qiao Wensong had always been a calm, unflappable strategist.
How could he now be publicly used as a stepping-stone, yet seem not the least bit resentful?
Before they could ponder further Shang Jinleng spoke first āSecond Uncle, why are you letting someone ride on your back?ā
At the address āSecond Uncle,ā Nangong Jingtang and the other demons of Luan Yao City all turned astonished faces.
āHo! So this is the power of a Predestined Great Demonāriding upon the face-spider Second Uncle!ā