The sudden surge of such astonishing demonic energy was unmistakably directed toward the entrance of the Chaos Valley.
This caught Han Li and the other concealed human cultivators off guard.
Some of the cultivators who had been monitoring the area had recently witnessed two Spirit Tribe members from the valley decisively defeat the demonic forces, even slaying several high-level shape-shifting demonic cultivators. Their strength had clearly surpassed that of the demonic side.
Now, the demons were launching such a fierce assault—had reinforcements arrived?
Just as the hidden human cultivators were struck with astonishment, a deafening roar erupted from the direction of the Chaos Valley. Dust and debris surged into the air at the valley entrance, and from both the ground and the sky, a massive wave of figures emerged.
The sky was filled with green wooden birds, each over ten feet long, while the ground swarmed with stone giants, each towering sixty to seventy feet tall.
The wooden avian puppets were so lifelike, their emerald-green forms fluttering gracefully, that from a distance, it was nearly impossible to distinguish them from real creatures.
The stone giants, however, were crudely formed, their massive faces bearing only a pair of pale-white eyes. Their bodies were composed of a chaotic assortment of rocks, varying in shape and size.
The sudden appearance of so many wooden and stone puppets sent a chill down the spines of those who had never witnessed the previous battle between demons and spirits.
Even Han Li, observing from afar, couldn’t help but show a flicker of surprise.
At that moment, a jade-green wooden phoenix and a grayish-white stone giant stepped forward from their respective ranks.
A flash of spiritual light appeared above the wooden phoenix, revealing a green-robed woman no taller than a foot. Meanwhile, the stone giant extended a massive hand, upon which stood an elderly man of similar size, gripping a white stone cane. His cold gaze swept over the overwhelming demonic energy ahead.
“Fellow Daoist Xiao, are you there? Come out and speak,” the old man boomed, his voice resonating like a tolling bell, audible to all within a radius of several miles.
From the churning gray-white demonic mist, a clear phoenix cry rang out. A dark fireball shot forth, twisting and transforming into a palace-dressed woman with a fierce expression.
“Huang Shigong, why summon me? Have you decided to surrender the Chaos Valley?” the woman retorted sharply.
“Surrender the Chaos Valley? You dare speak such words? Just ten days ago, you were utterly crushed by us, barely escaping with your life. A mere early-stage Deity Transformation demon dares challenge two mid-tier Spirit Generals? We advised you to retreat only to prevent those human cultivators from exploiting the situation,” the green-robed woman interjected, her voice melodious yet firm.
“Oh? You dismiss Xiao so easily, but what about me?” Another figure emerged from the roiling demonic mist—a slender youth with a radiant moth perched on his shoulder. It was none other than the refined-looking Huan Cangqi.
The moment Huang Shigong and Tianying laid eyes on the youth, their expressions darkened. Huang Shigong’s face twitched as he blurted, “Huan Cangqi! It’s you! How are you here?”
“Tsk tsk, you two still recognize me. Back then, I hadn’t even reached the Void Refinement stage, yet I held my own against you both. Now, after ten thousand years, I’ve attained the Five Elements Body, while you remain mere Spirit Generals. It seems the Spirit Tribe, aside from longevity, lacks the potential of our demon and human races. Perhaps you’ll fade into obscurity like other weak races. Why not submit to us now? The Spirit Tribe still has its uses—we won’t let you vanish entirely,” Huan Cangqi said calmly.
“Hmph! Such arrogance! The Spirit Tribe has endured in the Spirit Realm for a reason. You, a mere demon elder, have no right to comment on our fate. Be careful your words don’t come back to haunt you,” Huang Shigong snapped, his initial wariness replaced by fury.
“I may not be qualified to judge your race, but these words come from our chieftain. I merely relay them faithfully,” Huan Cangqi chuckled, unfazed.
“Enough! With our Sacred Spirits guarding us, we will never submit!” Tianying retorted coldly.
“Very well. Fellow Daoists Huang Liang and City Lord Lan, why hide any longer? I know you arrived yesterday. Do you truly intend to reap the spoils after we fight?” Huan Cangqi suddenly turned and called out toward an empty stretch of sky.
His words sent shockwaves through both the Spirit Tribe and the concealed human forces.
A faint white glow shimmered, as if an invisible veil had been lifted, revealing a massive jade vessel—thirty zhang long and five zhang wide—floating silently in the air. Aboard stood Huang Liang the Spirit Lord and his retinue of human cultivators.
City Lord Lan and the others wore expressions of surprise, clearly taken aback that their presence had been exposed.
“The Phantom Flame Moth! So it was you eavesdropping in Sunset City!” Huang Liang’s gaze locked onto the moth on Huan Cangqi’s shoulder, his face darkening.
“Did you only realize now? I thought you’d have figured it out sooner,” Huan Cangqi smirked.
“You old rat, always hiding in your nest to weather the Great Heavenly Tribulation. What brings you out now? Aren’t you afraid of failing your next tribulation?” Huang Liang taunted, evidently familiar with the demon elder.
“*Sigh* If I were confident in surviving the next three-thousand-year tribulation, I wouldn’t be here. I’ve lingered at the early Void Refinement stage for ten thousand years. Each tribulation grows more brutal—I have no hope of enduring another. So, I seek new opportunities. You, having only faced your first tribulation, don’t share my worries,” Huan Cangqi admitted wearily.
At the mention of the Great Heavenly Tribulation, Huang Liang’s expression soured, memories of his own harrowing ordeal flooding back.
“You seek breakthroughs? Why not venture into the Untamed Wilds instead of meddling in human affairs? Your excuses are flimsy,” Huang Liang transmitted silently.
“You misunderstand. I came to Sunset City to invite you on another expedition into the Wilds. The Spirit Tribe affair merely forced my hand as an elder of the Jade Rat Clan,” Huan Cangqi replied via the same method.
“An expedition?” Huang Liang was taken aback.
“Indeed. Though we differ in race, our abilities complement each other. Together, we’d fare far better in the Wilds. Remember our last joint venture millennia ago? We returned richly rewarded. I trust you, Huang Liang. No one else—not even my own clansmen. Your second tribulation approaches. Without preparation, how confident are you?” Huan Cangqi pressed.
Huang Liang fell silent before finally responding, “At present, I have but a fifty percent chance. My last tribulation destroyed many treasures.”
“Precisely. My odds are below twenty-five percent. So, will you join me?”
Huang Liang’s face flickered with uncertainty before he asked, “And what of the Spirit Tribe matter?”
“Simple. We subdue them first, capture the traitor, and divide the spoils. If there’s only one prize, we settle it through a duel. Fair?”
“You crafty old fox. You’ve millennia of experience over me—how could I win?”
“Then propose your terms.”
“We assess the prize first. The loser compensates the winner accordingly.”
“Agreed. Let’s deal with these Spirit Generals.”
With a nod, Huang Liang turned to brief City Lord Lan and the others.
Realizing their plan to exploit the conflict had been foiled—and facing a Void Refinement demon—the humans reluctantly agreed.
Without hesitation, City Lord Lan clapped his hands and hurled a blazing blue fireball into the sky. It exploded brilliantly, signaling the hidden forces.
From distant hills and forests, streaks of light shot forth as human cultivators and body refiners mounted their spirit tools, revealing themselves in full force.
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