This plan had already been finalized by everyone before setting out, and now, as the moment arrived, none of the Venerable Paragons had any objections.
A short while later, the demon army gathered above the Desolate Valley split into several groups with a thunderous roar, surging away in the same direction. Only tens of thousands of the most elite demon guards and a group of Venerable Paragons remained behind.
Another hour later, the remaining elite demon forces stirred before boarding massive ships and departing the valley as well.
Seven days later, above a barren plateau, a demon army of over a hundred thousand soldiers fought desperately amidst a sea of insects.
The demon army moved with discipline, forming an intricate circular formation in the sky with hundreds of massive ships as its core. They erected seven or eight layers of defensive barriers, from which thick beams of light and dense black mist erupted ceaselessly. Every moment, countless insect corpses rained down from the sky.
But the number of insects in this sea was overwhelming! No matter how many were slain, more would swarm in, relentlessly assaulting the formation.
Originally advancing slowly, the demon army was forced to halt under the relentless onslaught. However, the attacks from the formation intensified, annihilating vast numbers of nearby insects and slightly easing the pressure.
Yet, three demon monarchs aboard one of the massive ships watched this scene with grim expressions, devoid of any joy.
“Deploying our reserves now is hardly wise. The time we can hold out will likely be drastically shortened,” muttered a burly demon clad in crimson armor.
“Hmph, if we hadn’t acted, the entire formation might have collapsed just now. If we can’t even survive this wave, what’s the point of worrying about the future?” retorted a gaunt, elderly demon with a cold snort.
“But the orders from the Sacred Ancestors were to hold out for at least half a day in the insect sea. We’ve barely lasted a few hours. If we truly wish to return alive, we must preserve some of our strength. Otherwise, once everyone is exhausted, how can just a few of us fight our way out?” countered the crimson-armored demon.
“If we don’t commit all our forces now, we’ll be in immediate peril. What’s the point of talking about breaking out? At worst, we can all use forbidden techniques to boost our power. It’s not impossible to escape,” the gaunt elder replied dismissively.
“Boost our power? You make it sound easy. The slightest misstep, and we’ll be torn apart by these insects,” the crimson-armored demon said coldly.
“I believe that with proper planning and seizing the right opportunity, it’s not as difficult as you think,” the gaunt elder retorted with a roll of his eyes.
The burly demon grew furious and was about to argue further when the third demon monarch, a middle-aged woman, interrupted sharply.
“What kind of time is this for you two to keep bickering? If you have the leisure, save it for after we escape. Until then, the three of us must work together. All our forces are already deployed—regret is pointless now. Instead of arguing, think of ways to break out beyond just boosting our power,” the demon woman said expressionlessly.
“Lady Tianmiao speaks wisely. Let’s discuss this calmly and see if there’s another way,” the crimson-armored demon said, suppressing his anger with a forced smile.
“Indeed, I hadn’t expected the insects here to be far fiercer than those outside. We must unite now,” the gaunt elder conceded with a dry cough.
Thus, the three demon monarchs resumed their discussion aboard the ship, strategizing their escape.
At the same time, other demon armies were similarly besieged in different regions of the insect sea, led by their own monarchs as they desperately fended off wave after wave of attacks, barely holding on.
Meanwhile, Han Li, Baohua, and their elite force of tens of thousands had taken advantage of the distraction caused by the main demon armies. They broke through over a dozen insect swarms at top speed, closing in on the Origin Seal Land.
But by now, the remaining insects had reacted, surrounding them from all sides and trapping them in the endless sea, just like the other demon armies.
However, unlike those forces, Han Li and Baohua’s group was far more formidable. Even without the direct intervention of the Venerable Paragons, the combined might of the elite demon guards and nearly a thousand disciples of the Paragons was more than ordinary insects could withstand.
Sword beams and blade lights surged ahead, reducing the blocking insects to bloody mist in an instant. The demon army, shrouded in demonic energy, advanced relentlessly at astonishing speed, crushing even the few stronger insects that dared stand in their way.
Within half an hour, they had traversed a million miles, leaving countless insect corpses in their wake.
Suddenly, strange hissing echoed from the insect sea ahead. The swarm parted, revealing a horde of massive emerald-green insects, each over thirty feet long, with pincer-like forelimbs and jagged fangs.
“Beware! These are high-tier insects—their spit is equivalent to a full-force strike from a demon monarch!” a high-ranking demon shouted in alarm.
But it was too late. The giant insects opened their maws, unleashing emerald beams that pierced through the demonic defenses, vaporizing nearly a thousand elite demon guards instantly.
“Hah! So many high-tier insects at once—they’ve finally realized we’re the main force. Then let’s not hold back!” A black-armored Sacred Ancestor at the ship’s prow laughed, flicking his hand to release a net of black threads that expanded into a mile-wide web, ensnaring the giant insects.
Nearby, other Venerable Paragons acted in unison. One summoned a dozen towering tornadoes that surged forward, while another called down a storm of lightning bolts.
Giant wind blades and blue fireballs materialized around the insects, raining destruction. One Paragon even drew a crystalline sword, unleashing a storm of sword light that filled the sky.
Under such overwhelming force, the high-tier insects—though formidable—were swiftly annihilated, either torn apart or reduced to ash.
Cheers erupted from the demon ranks.
“Don’t stop! Keep moving!” the black-armored Sacred Ancestor roared with a savage grin.
The elite guards obeyed, pressing forward even as the remaining insects surged back, unable to slow their advance.
From the ship’s hall, Han Li observed everything with a sweep of his divine sense. Seeing the high-tier insects wiped out so easily, he smirked.
Though their attacks rivaled those of demon monarchs, their defenses were pitifully weak—like flawed imitations. Otherwise, even multiple Paragons working together couldn’t have erased so many so effortlessly.
These insects clearly weren’t the true apex of the swarm.
In the hall, most of the Paragons had gathered, with only a few stationed at the ship’s ends to handle emergencies. Baohua sat at the center, idly toying with the small Illusory Heaven Mirror in her hand.
Other Paragons either conversed quietly or meditated. Han Li’s gaze lingered briefly on Xie Lian, the Saintess of Evil Lotus, who sat by a window, watching the battle outside with an unreadable expression.
Near her, the Copper Crow Elder sat cross-legged, surrounded by his entourage, faint yellow light shimmering around him as if cultivating some technique.
Han Li withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes to rest. Beside him stood the emotionless Crab Spirit, though Silvermoon was absent—Han Li had deemed this mission too dangerous and left her behind in the desert’s temporary abode.
Though leaving his side would subject her to the effects of the Heartless Curse, as long as the separation wasn’t prolonged, no lasting harm would come.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage