Chapter 967: Taking Tianxing City! Next Step: Forced March!
Research on the Ten Thousand Demons race…
Has already produced numerous expert theories and widely accepted data.
The most persuasive and accepted claim is that the Ten Thousand Demons aren't actually that ugly.
But because they descended from a high-density gaseous environment into a low-density one, their bodies mutated.
Note…
This high-density gaseous environment isn't the upper realm.
It refers to another mysterious dimension.
The Ten Thousand Demons may have been pulled in by the Ten Thousand Demons Lord from some shattered space.
After all…
There are many broken secret realms now. Some may be dungeon instances, others entire mini-continents.
With races that have never seen the outside world.
When those races step out into a world with different atmospheric conditions, they can't adapt and become monstrous.
At first, no one believed this theory.
But when scientists presented data and magically restored a Ten Thousand Demons creature to its original form, people began to believe.
The Ten Thousand Demons' original appearance closely resembles humans.
But they're not humans—they're a unique race from some lost space.
Once brought here by the Ten Thousand Demons Lord, they underwent demonic transformation.
Combined with other factors, they became the bloodthirsty monsters they are today.
Among their own kind, they retain their original personalities—but when facing lower-realm races, they become irrationally aggressive.
Some have tried to reverse the transformation—but all failed.
Only after death, when special magical artifacts are used, can they revert to their original forms.
So it makes sense that they have their own culture and history.
Because the Crimson Phoenix Demon Sovereign guarded Lemoris Fortress for years—
The area outside was considered safe by the Ten Thousand Demons, and they gradually relocated there.
So as Ling Zhan advanced toward Tianxing City, he saw many Ten Thousand Demons towns.
Most of them were already abandoned.
But some refused to leave.
Perhaps these places held cherished memories—they would rather die than give them up.
But Ling Zhan's reaction was cold and firm:
"Kill!!"
Mercy has no place in command.
Even if it's an innocent child—if they are the enemy, Ling Zhan shows no mercy.
A commander must have a heart of steel to shoulder the burden.
Moreover…
A commander is responsible for the lives of all their soldiers!
Mercy toward the enemy is betrayal toward your own.
So he swept all the way to Tianxing City.
When they arrived—
Everyone was surprised.
They thought Tianxing City would be heavily fortified, but instead, it was occupied by local Ten Thousand Demons from nearby towns.
They stood atop the walls, glaring at the Amethyst and Demon-Slaying Legions.
Their faces full of grim resolve and deathly determination.
Clearly…
This was a hastily assembled militia.
They had taken up defense.
And polluted the river.
In response…
Ling Zhan didn't hesitate—he waved his hand and launched the siege.
The siege was simple.
No—
It was utterly one-sided.
They were just militia.
And Tianxing City had already been abandoned by the main army, leaving its defenses weak.
The magic shields couldn't withstand a prepared Amethyst or Demon-Slaying Legion.
In less than five minutes—
The city walls were shattered by floating cannons.
And—
Ling Zhan casually grabbed a nearby soldier's spear and hurled it at the city's central tower.
Whoosh!!
The terrifying spear flew like a nuclear missile.
BOOM!!
The central tower exploded instantly!
The blast wave leveled the entire city!
The surrounding soldiers were speechless.
Damn!
General Ling Zhan's casual throw was more powerful than the siege cannons!
Totally unfair!
"Kill! Fight them to the death!"
"Fight!!"
Seeing their walls fall and their leader pierced to death—
The remaining Ten Thousand Demons charged at Ling Zhan.
One of them was a level 182 Demon Emperor hiding among them!
He concealed his aura, slipped out, and blinked in front of Ling Zhan!
"Die, human scum!!"
The Demon Emperor roared.
But—
Slash!!
He didn't even see what happened—just a flash of white light.
His body was cleaved in two.
Black flames flickered along the cut.
"No…!!"
His last words were a bitter howl.
Boom!
He collapsed, dead.
Ling Zhan stared expressionlessly at the corpse, then looked into the distance.
Tianxing City was taken in under ten minutes.
So fast it shocked everyone.
But it also showed them—the Ten Thousand Demons had those willing to fight to the death.
In another time, in another place—
These demons were like their own ancestors, who once resisted the demon invasion with unyielding will.
Karma has a way of turning.
But deep inside, Ling Zhan understood—
To uncover the truth, he'd have to face the legendary Ten Thousand Demons Lord himself.
With Tianxing City reclaimed, the water crisis was resolved.
Reinforcements would build magical wells to stabilize supply.
No more water shortages.
"Inform all members of the Amethyst and Demon-Slaying Legions!"
"Tomorrow, we begin a forced march!"
At that moment—
Ling Zhan issued the order.
Aivina and Clodas snapped to attention.
They knew…
General Ling Zhan was planning something big!
"Yes, sir!"
They replied with excitement.