Jiang Chen stroked his chin, a contemplative look in his eyes. 'The real demon race army has truly descended this time,' he pondered.
'Bo Lang and his group were just the vanguard.'
'The Immortal Martial Continent isn't as formidable as one might think. Under normal circumstances, Bo Lang and his vanguard should have been able to take control.'
'So, it seems the Immortal Martial Continent isn’t the demon race's ultimate goal, but rather a stepping stone.'
'Their true intention is likely the human lands beyond the Immortal Martial Continent!'
His eyes sharpened. 'If my hunch is right, their sights are set on the Prosperous Stone Immortal Star.'
At this moment, Jing Chengwang and the others finally arrived. The human prodigies gathered around, their faces awash with reverence and admiration for Jiang Chen.
One dashed forward, eyes shining with gratitude, "Lord Jiang Chen!"
A dignified woman in refined robes inclined her head gracefully, "Greetings, Lord Jiang Chen!"
Another, a man whose face bore scars, brought his hands together, voice laden with emotion, "Lord Jiang Chen, thank you for saving our disciples!"
A lofty figure at the back, donned in majestic attire, voiced with certainty, "Lord Jiang Chen, you are the paramount figure in the Immortal Martial Continent, its true Lord!"
Sequentially, the cultivators paid their homage to Jiang Chen, their visages radiant with respect and elation.
Jiang Chen was revealed to be a formidable force of the Transcendence realm!
After a million years, the Immortal Martial Continent finally beheld a mighty figure of the Transcendence realm!
Under Jiang Chen's guardianship, the defense of the Immortal Martial Continent was significantly fortified.
Additionally, it became clear to all that this Immortal Martial Grand Assembly was a clever ploy devised by Jiang Chen, aimed to trap and eradicate the demon race entirely!
From this day forward, the acknowledgment and reverence for Jiang Chen would be wholehearted and undisputed.
"Everyone, please stand," Jiang Chen uttered with composure, his gaze sweeping across the gathering, acknowledging each individual.
Whispers spread among the crowd, but his voice quelled them effortlessly. "Regarding the title of the Lord of the Immortal Martial Continent, let's refrain from discussing it at present."
He took a step, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency. "At the moment, I've only vanquished the vanguard of the demon race. A far more formidable demon race army is on the horizon!"
"What?!" A cultivator exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief, mirroring the sentiment of many.
"A more potent demon race army?!"
"If the vanguard of the demon race already had a powerhouse of the Transcendence realm, then wouldn't the main force be teeming with even mightier figures of the Third Step of the Cultivation Path?"
"There's no need for concern. With Lord Jiang Chen present, the Immortal Martial Continent will surely remain protected!"
"Indeed! Lord Jiang Chen is both profoundly wise and valiant, peerless in our world. The incoming demon race army is no cause for undue worry!"
After their initial shock, the cultivators' faces transformed from surprise to assurance, their expressions alight with confidence, lavishing praise upon Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen remained expressionless, his eyes abruptly turning toward the seas of Black Wood Island.
There, a host of the demon race's leaders from the Dao Comprehension realm led a dense horde of demons and demonic cultivators. Erupting from the underwater caverns, their faces were twisted with malevolent intent, charging headlong toward this side. These were the demon race vanguard who had bravely traversed the underwater passage from the Pure Frost Domain's lake.
From the advancing lines, loud laughter echoed, "Hahaha!"
"Lord Jiu Xiaoyin and the others surely have eliminated all the human prodigies and the Dao Palace realm cultivators. Those left are merely our prey for slaughter!"
"Quickly, quickly! We mustn't let a single human slip away. I wish to obliterate them entirely, leaving not a dog or chicken standing!"
Elated with their impending victory, the demons and demonic cultivators were jubilant, utterly ignorant of the fact that Jiu Xiaoyin and his group had already met their demise.
'Remnants from the Pure Frost Domain's demon race?' Jiang Chen's eyes sharpened. In a brilliant streak, he covered a hundred thousand kilometers. After several such streaks, he stood right before the demon race battalion.
From the center of the marching mass, a demon, eyes blazing red, voiced his incredulity, "Is that... a human?"
Swiftly, other demons and demonic cultivators of the Dao Comprehension realm fixed their attention on Jiang Chen, momentarily pausing in their march.
However, before they could muster any response, a myriad of sword Qi whizzed, trailed by the intense blaze of the overpowering Burning World Raging Flames!
A demon chieftain shouted, "That's a powerhouse of the Transcendence realm!"
"How can this be? Since when do humans possess a Transcendence realm powerhouse?"
A piercing shriek resounded, "No!!"
Overwhelmed by dread, the vast demon race army stood paralyzed. But moments later, they were mercilessly dispatched, decapitated by the swift might of Jiang Chen.
'Wordless Heavenly Jade, Death Calamity Dark Star Moon Dao Embryo!' With a mere thought, Jiang Chen invoked the two Heaven-Defying Fate Changers, instantly drawing in a vast sea of qi and blood energy, and the essence of cultivation bases.
Instantly, Jiang Chen sensed his cultivation base surge.
'While this isn't as abundant as the cultivation base offered by a Transcendence realm demon, this haul is certainly noteworthy.' Jiang Chen gestured, dispelling the lingering demonic qi in the atmosphere, then swiftly returned to Ageless Spirit Heavenly Island.
"Lord Jiang Chen!" The great powerhouses of the human race looked upon the rapidly returning Jiang Chen with a hint of uncertainty.
Jiang Chen stood tall amongst the human cultivators, his voice ringing with authority and decisiveness. "I've eradicated the subsequent demon race vanguard from the Pure Frost Domain."
"But, there are still remnants lurking within the Pure Frost Domain."
"I will usher you to the Pure Frost Domain to vanquish the lingering forces of the demon race."
"Moreover, with the top-tier of the demon race vanguard fallen, those remaining in the Pure Frost Domain are certainly alerted and have communicated this."
"When they receive word, the demon race's principal army will undeniably quicken their march."
He paused briefly, allowing his words to permeate, and then continued, "I entrust the Pure Frost Domain to you. As for the demon race's principal force, I will take the lead in confronting them."
"Understood!" a voice cried out from the crowd.
"We obey!" another shouted back.
"Just command us, Lord Jiang Chen!"
As Jiang Chen's words resonated, a sea of cultivators bowed in respect, readying themselves for the upcoming battle.
"Doomsday Cave Heaven, open!" With a slight nod, Jiang Chen produced the secret key to the Cave Heaven, unlocking all its primary and secondary gates.
Spatial entrances swiftly appeared across various domains, including the Purple Heaven Holy Land and the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect. Each territory was now interconnected by a spatial channel.
Soon after, human race experts began entering the Cave Heaven in succession.
With a determined step, Jiang Chen too entered the Cave Heaven.
Above the crumbling inheritance peak, powerhouses from both the Dao Palace realm and the Dao Comprehension realm began to assemble. It seemed as if experts from every corner of the Immortal Martial Continent had now convened.
"Go! Beyond this spatial gate is the Moon Plucking Heavenly Sect of the Pure Frost Domain," Jiang Chen declared, guiding a spatial door to the Pure Frost Domain with a mere gesture.
"Yes!" Jing Chengwang and the others affirmed, moving swiftly to enter the Pure Frost Domain.
...
Meanwhile, within the Pure Frost Domain and atop the majestic Clear Frost Moon Plucking Peak draped in pristine white snow, the demon race's remaining forces descended into utter turmoil.
For inside the sect, an array of the powerhouses' Life Tablets had suddenly fractured. No tablet remained intact, not even those of the demon race's mightiest!
This ominous sign indicated that every member of the demon race's forces, from prominent figures like Bo Lang and Jiu Xiaoyin to the most unassuming members, who had ventured into the Lustrous Yang Domain, had met their end!
"How can this be?" exclaimed one of the demons, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"What on earth happened?" another questioned, his gaze darting around in panic.
"Lord Bo Lang and Lord Jiu Xiaoyin are formidable powerhouses of the Transcendence realm! It's inconceivable that they could have fallen!"
"The situation is dire! We must immediately notify the demon race army!"
The handful of demon race experts left to safeguard the region were seized by terror, their frames quaking with fear. Without a moment's delay, they conveyed the grave news to the communication team stationed deep within the Bottomless Abyss.
Boom!
Yet, as they did so, a spatial gate burst open, rending a vast chasm in the heavens.
Seconds later, Jing Chengwang and his allies descended, initiating a ferocious onslaught against the Moon Plucking Heavenly Sect.
...
Within the Doomsday Cave Heaven, Jiang Chen stood unyielding. His intense gaze captured Ji Mingxiu and the other human powerhouses in attendance.
"Fellow comrades," he began, his voice echoing with authority.
"The demon race army stands poised to descend."
"If they succeed in their invasion, even my power might be insufficient to repel them."
He allowed a brief pause, ensuring the weight of his words settled upon everyone, then proclaimed, "Therefore, they must be thwarted!"
With no further delay, Jiang Chen channeled his Dao Yuan Power into the Cave Heaven's secret key, which he clenched with determination.
Suddenly, the existing spatial channels dissipated.
In their stead, a vastly more expansive spatial channel started to emerge from the remnants of the inheritance peak!
Jiang Chen stroked his chin, a contemplative look in his eyes. 'The real demon race army has truly descended this time,' he pondered.
'Bo Lang and his group were just the vanguard.'
'The Immortal Martial Continent isn't as formidable as one might think. Under normal circumstances, Bo Lang and his vanguard should have been able to take control.'
'So, it seems the Immortal Martial Continent isn’t the demon race's ultimate goal, but rather a stepping stone.'
'Their true intention is likely the human lands beyond the Immortal Martial Continent!'
His eyes sharpened. 'If my hunch is right, their sights are set on the Prosperous Stone Immortal Star.'
At this moment, Jing Chengwang and the others finally arrived. The human prodigies gathered around, their faces awash with reverence and admiration for Jiang Chen.
One dashed forward, eyes shining with gratitude, "Lord Jiang Chen!"
A dignified woman in refined robes inclined her head gracefully, "Greetings, Lord Jiang Chen!"
Another, a man whose face bore scars, brought his hands together, voice laden with emotion, "Lord Jiang Chen, thank you for saving our disciples!"
A lofty figure at the back, donned in majestic attire, voiced with certainty, "Lord Jiang Chen, you are the paramount figure in the Immortal Martial Continent, its true Lord!"
Sequentially, the cultivators paid their homage to Jiang Chen, their visages radiant with respect and elation.
Jiang Chen was revealed to be a formidable force of the Transcendence realm!
After a million years, the Immortal Martial Continent finally beheld a mighty figure of the Transcendence realm!
Under Jiang Chen's guardianship, the defense of the Immortal Martial Continent was significantly fortified.
Additionally, it became clear to all that this Immortal Martial Grand Assembly was a clever ploy devised by Jiang Chen, aimed to trap and eradicate the demon race entirely!
From this day forward, the acknowledgment and reverence for Jiang Chen would be wholehearted and undisputed.
"Everyone, please stand," Jiang Chen uttered with composure, his gaze sweeping across the gathering, acknowledging each individual.
Whispers spread among the crowd, but his voice quelled them effortlessly. "Regarding the title of the Lord of the Immortal Martial Continent, let's refrain from discussing it at present."
He took a step, his voice tinged with a hint of urgency. "At the moment, I've only vanquished the vanguard of the demon race. A far more formidable demon race army is on the horizon!"
"What?!" A cultivator exclaimed, eyes wide in disbelief, mirroring the sentiment of many.
"A more potent demon race army?!"
"If the vanguard of the demon race already had a powerhouse of the Transcendence realm, then wouldn't the main force be teeming with even mightier figures of the Third Step of the Cultivation Path?"
"There's no need for concern. With Lord Jiang Chen present, the Immortal Martial Continent will surely remain protected!"
"Indeed! Lord Jiang Chen is both profoundly wise and valiant, peerless in our world. The incoming demon race army is no cause for undue worry!"
After their initial shock, the cultivators' faces transformed from surprise to assurance, their expressions alight with confidence, lavishing praise upon Jiang Chen.
Jiang Chen remained expressionless, his eyes abruptly turning toward the seas of Black Wood Island.
There, a host of the demon race's leaders from the Dao Comprehension realm led a dense horde of demons and demonic cultivators. Erupting from the underwater caverns, their faces were twisted with malevolent intent, charging headlong toward this side. These were the demon race vanguard who had bravely traversed the underwater passage from the Pure Frost Domain's lake.
From the advancing lines, loud laughter echoed, "Hahaha!"
"Lord Jiu Xiaoyin and the others surely have eliminated all the human prodigies and the Dao Palace realm cultivators. Those left are merely our prey for slaughter!"
"Quickly, quickly! We mustn't let a single human slip away. I wish to obliterate them entirely, leaving not a dog or chicken standing!"
Elated with their impending victory, the demons and demonic cultivators were jubilant, utterly ignorant of the fact that Jiu Xiaoyin and his group had already met their demise.
'Remnants from the Pure Frost Domain's demon race?' Jiang Chen's eyes sharpened. In a brilliant streak, he covered a hundred thousand kilometers. After several such streaks, he stood right before the demon race battalion.
From the center of the marching mass, a demon, eyes blazing red, voiced his incredulity, "Is that... a human?"
Swiftly, other demons and demonic cultivators of the Dao Comprehension realm fixed their attention on Jiang Chen, momentarily pausing in their march.
However, before they could muster any response, a myriad of sword Qi whizzed, trailed by the intense blaze of the overpowering Burning World Raging Flames!
A demon chieftain shouted, "That's a powerhouse of the Transcendence realm!"
"How can this be? Since when do humans possess a Transcendence realm powerhouse?"
A piercing shriek resounded, "No!!"
Overwhelmed by dread, the vast demon race army stood paralyzed. But moments later, they were mercilessly dispatched, decapitated by the swift might of Jiang Chen.
'Wordless Heavenly Jade, Death Calamity Dark Star Moon Dao Embryo!' With a mere thought, Jiang Chen invoked the two Heaven-Defying Fate Changers, instantly drawing in a vast sea of qi and blood energy, and the essence of cultivation bases.
Instantly, Jiang Chen sensed his cultivation base surge.
'While this isn't as abundant as the cultivation base offered by a Transcendence realm demon, this haul is certainly noteworthy.' Jiang Chen gestured, dispelling the lingering demonic qi in the atmosphere, then swiftly returned to Ageless Spirit Heavenly Island.
"Lord Jiang Chen!" The great powerhouses of the human race looked upon the rapidly returning Jiang Chen with a hint of uncertainty.
Jiang Chen stood tall amongst the human cultivators, his voice ringing with authority and decisiveness. "I've eradicated the subsequent demon race vanguard from the Pure Frost Domain."
"But, there are still remnants lurking within the Pure Frost Domain."
"I will usher you to the Pure Frost Domain to vanquish the lingering forces of the demon race."
"Moreover, with the top-tier of the demon race vanguard fallen, those remaining in the Pure Frost Domain are certainly alerted and have communicated this."
"When they receive word, the demon race's principal army will undeniably quicken their march."
He paused briefly, allowing his words to permeate, and then continued, "I entrust the Pure Frost Domain to you. As for the demon race's principal force, I will take the lead in confronting them."
"Understood!" a voice cried out from the crowd.
"We obey!" another shouted back.
"Just command us, Lord Jiang Chen!"
As Jiang Chen's words resonated, a sea of cultivators bowed in respect, readying themselves for the upcoming battle.
"Doomsday Cave Heaven, open!" With a slight nod, Jiang Chen produced the secret key to the Cave Heaven, unlocking all its primary and secondary gates.
Spatial entrances swiftly appeared across various domains, including the Purple Heaven Holy Land and the Ageless Spirit Heavenly Sect. Each territory was now interconnected by a spatial channel.
Soon after, human race experts began entering the Cave Heaven in succession.
With a determined step, Jiang Chen too entered the Cave Heaven.
Above the crumbling inheritance peak, powerhouses from both the Dao Palace realm and the Dao Comprehension realm began to assemble. It seemed as if experts from every corner of the Immortal Martial Continent had now convened.
"Go! Beyond this spatial gate is the Moon Plucking Heavenly Sect of the Pure Frost Domain," Jiang Chen declared, guiding a spatial door to the Pure Frost Domain with a mere gesture.
"Yes!" Jing Chengwang and the others affirmed, moving swiftly to enter the Pure Frost Domain.
...
Meanwhile, within the Pure Frost Domain and atop the majestic Clear Frost Moon Plucking Peak draped in pristine white snow, the demon race's remaining forces descended into utter turmoil.
For inside the sect, an array of the powerhouses' Life Tablets had suddenly fractured. No tablet remained intact, not even those of the demon race's mightiest!
This ominous sign indicated that every member of the demon race's forces, from prominent figures like Bo Lang and Jiu Xiaoyin to the most unassuming members, who had ventured into the Lustrous Yang Domain, had met their end!
"How can this be?" exclaimed one of the demons, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"What on earth happened?" another questioned, his gaze darting around in panic.
"Lord Bo Lang and Lord Jiu Xiaoyin are formidable powerhouses of the Transcendence realm! It's inconceivable that they could have fallen!"
"The situation is dire! We must immediately notify the demon race army!"
The handful of demon race experts left to safeguard the region were seized by terror, their frames quaking with fear. Without a moment's delay, they conveyed the grave news to the communication team stationed deep within the Bottomless Abyss.
Boom!
Yet, as they did so, a spatial gate burst open, rending a vast chasm in the heavens.
Seconds later, Jing Chengwang and his allies descended, initiating a ferocious onslaught against the Moon Plucking Heavenly Sect.
...
Within the Doomsday Cave Heaven, Jiang Chen stood unyielding. His intense gaze captured Ji Mingxiu and the other human powerhouses in attendance.
"Fellow comrades," he began, his voice echoing with authority.
"The demon race army stands poised to descend."
"If they succeed in their invasion, even my power might be insufficient to repel them."
He allowed a brief pause, ensuring the weight of his words settled upon everyone, then proclaimed, "Therefore, they must be thwarted!"
With no further delay, Jiang Chen channeled his Dao Yuan Power into the Cave Heaven's secret key, which he clenched with determination.
Suddenly, the existing spatial channels dissipated.
In their stead, a vastly more expansive spatial channel started to emerge from the remnants of the inheritance peak!
