Jiangnan West Circuit.
Luling Prefecture.
The mountains and rivers here were rugged, and the forests dense.
In the past, it was a desolate land plagued by miasma and venomous insects.
Now.
It was completely enveloped by a visible black mist.
Sunlight never pierced through the gloom.
Amidst the towering mountains.
The wilderness, originally uninhabited, was now filled with flags obscuring the sun and a forest of spears and halberds.
Looking around.
Camps stretched for ten miles, and the watchtowers were imposing and stern.
Countless tents, like mushrooms sprouting from the ground, spread densely, stretching all the way to the horizon.
The cold wind howled.
Besides the elites of the Demon Suppression Division, who wore Dark Robes with Red Markings.
There were also large contingents of fierce soldiers in iron armor, wielding long halberds, their expressions solemn as if facing a formidable enemy.
Logically speaking.
The Demon Suppression Division specializes in slaying demons and monsters, and rarely mixes with regular military forces like this.
After all.
Most military personnel have ordinary cultivation bases, practicing only military formation techniques.
Against Human Race armies that also use formations, they are naturally invincible.
But if they faced demons and monsters that move like the wind and employ strange methods.
Such cumbersome military formations would simply become living targets.
If it were not an absolute last resort.
Why would the Imperial Court order these soldiers, who are not skilled at dealing with demons, to rush thousands of miles to their deaths?
The only explanation was.
The troublesome nature of the demons... had grown so vast... that the Demon Suppression Division alone could no longer handle it.
Even if they had to use flesh and blood to construct a defense line.
They had to prevent the demonic calamity from spreading even half a step further.
Inside the main military tent.
Seated in the primary position was a stern-faced middle-aged man.
This man wore dark brocade robes embroidered with intricate cloud patterns using crimson gold thread, cinched at the waist by a jade belt, exuding a formidable presence.
Especially on his left shoulder.
The shoulder guard's beast head design was neither that of a tiger nor a leopard, nor a lion nor an elephant.
Instead, it was an angry-eyed Xiezhi.
This man was precisely the Left Demon Suppression Envoy of the Demon Suppression Headquarters, Lü Qinghou.
On either side below him.
Were several Inspector Envoys wearing golden robes and Silver Robes, each possessing profound auras.
Further down.
Were several Demon Quelling Generals clad in heavy armor and radiating Evil Qi.
Reporting the military situation at the very front was an old man with white hair and beard.
The old man wore a blood-red cloak, and on his right shoulder was a black tiger beast head design.
This was clearly the attire of a Dusi Commander.
And at this moment.
This Commander of the Jiangnan West Circuit Dusi had a pale, defeated expression.
Yuan Tiangang clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Lord Lu, currently in the Jiangnan West Circuit, from Poyang in the east, to Pingxiang in the west, and Ganzhou in the south, there are beacon fires everywhere, and urgent pleas for help everywhere!"
"This kind of irregular harassment is truly..."
From his seat.
Lü Qinghou let out a cold laugh, his tone indifferent.
"Old General Yuan, you are considered an old hand who has dealt with demons and monsters your entire life."
"Can you truly not see through that beast's tricks?"
Yuan Tiangang was stunned: "Does Your Excellency mean..."
Lü Qinghou stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked outside the tent.
"That Old Demon Saint has been suppressed for many years. Although the Seal is now loose and some methods can leak out, the Commander is stationed here, making it difficult for it to cause any major trouble..."
"The reason it drives various Demon Kings to create chaos in the prefectures, even at the cost of sending them to their deaths."
"Is simply..."
"To disrupt our formations and divide our forces."
"So that it can execute the stratagem of luring the tiger out of the mountains, gaining a sliver of hope for breaking the Seal and escaping."
"If we actually fall for such a minor trick, we would be granting that beast its wish!"
As soon as these words were spoken.
All the generals inside the tent nodded slightly.
Indeed.
If the main army were to be dispersed now to reinforce various places.
Should something happen at the Sealed location, insufficient manpower here would be the true disaster.
Yuan Tiangang opened his mouth, a trace of bitterness appearing on his face.
He slowly lowered his head, his voice deep.
"Lord Lu's insight is sharp, seeing through everything clearly."
"The demon's intentions are indeed as you say."
"This logic... I understand it too."
"But..."
Yuan Tiangang suddenly raised his head: "But Your Excellency! The Jiangnan West Circuit is not just a map! These are living human lives! The Demon Suppression Divisions originally stationed in the prefectures are already suffering heavy casualties and are overwhelmed."
"If there are no further reinforcements..."
Yuan Tiangang dropped heavily onto one knee.
"I beg Lord Lu, please reconsider!"
A dead silence fell over the tent.
Only the sound of the wind howling outside remained.
Lü Qinghou looked at the old general kneeling on the ground, and his stern face finally softened slightly.
"Alas..."
He sighed softly, took two steps forward, and reached out to help Yuan Tiangang up.
"Commander Yuan, I understand your difficulties."
"I am not a heartless person, nor do I wish to see lives ruined."
"It's just that..."
"At this critical moment, we must decide what is more important."
Lü Qinghou patted Yuan Tiangang's shoulder, his tone softening slightly.
"However, you should not despair too much... The General Bureau sent a letter a few days ago, stating that the elites of the Demon Suppression Division from Jiangnan East Circuit, Huainan Circuit, and even Shannan East Circuit are all on their way."
"Especially from the General Bureau..."
A sharp glint flashed in Lü Qinghou's eyes.
"They have even transferred several more Inspector Envoys from various places to come to our aid."
"Calculating the travel time..."
Lü Qinghou turned his head and looked at the pitch-black night sky outside the tent.
"In no more than three days."
"Reinforcements will definitely arrive!"
Before his voice faded.
A sudden clap of thunder erupted from the Nine Heavens.
RUMBLE—!!!
This thunder was not the sound of a dark, rainy day, nor was it the sound of a demon causing mischief.
It sounded more like—
The sound of the sky collapsing and mountains crumbling!
The expressions of everyone inside the tent changed simultaneously.
Lü Qinghou reacted the fastest, his body blurring into an afterimage, and he instantly appeared outside the tent.
Yuan Tiangang, along with the Inspector Envoys and generals, followed closely, filing out.
At this moment.
The sky, which had been covered by dark clouds, was forcibly ripped open by an extremely brilliant golden light!
Its momentum was immense, like a Kunpeng spreading its wings, soaring ninety thousand miles high.
Its might was overwhelming, like the Heavenly River pouring down, unstoppable as it descended upon the mortal world.
Where the golden light passed.
The pervasive gloom scattered like snow meeting boiling water, completely melting away.
A Silver-Robed Inspector craned their neck, eyes wide: "This... this kind of escape technique..."
"Could it be... could it be a Martial Saint Old Ancestor of the Lamp Lighting Realm who has personally come to reinforce us?!"
As soon as this was said, morale soared.
If a Lamp-Lighting expert arrived personally.
Combined with the Demon Suppression Division Commander-in-Chief, who was already at Lamp-Lighting Perfection.
The crisis in the Jiangnan West Circuit could be resolved in an instant!
Only Lü Qinghou still frowned deeply, a hint of shock and doubt flashing in his eyes.
No.
He knew the current foundation of Great Tang too well.
Although the Imperial Ancestor is Lamp-Lighting, he is the pillar of the nation and must suppress Chang'an and deter minor threats from all directions.
Unless the nation was on the verge of collapse, there was no reason for him to easily leave the capital.
Moreover... this aura, though unparalleled in its ferocity, carried an indescribable sharpness.
It was completely different from the Imperial Ancestor's balanced and peaceful Ziwei Imperial Qi.
"Who in the Nine Heavens could this be?"
Just as he was pondering.
The golden light had already arrived overhead.
It showed no signs of slowing down.
Carrying the momentum of a thousand bolts of thunder, it slammed violently onto the open ground in front of the main military tent!
"Scatter—!!"
Lü Qinghou roared, his True Essence surging around him to protect the people behind him.
BOOM—!!!
The tremendous noise was deafening.
A terrifying wave of air rushed outwards from the point of impact, scattering sand and stones, filling the sky with dust.
Flags within dozens of yards were ripped out by the roots, and many soldiers with weaker cultivation were shaken by the aftershock, stumbling backward and falling to the ground.
Once the dust filling the sky dissipated.
Everyone looked closely.
They saw a large crater clearly visible on the hard ground.
And slowly walking out of that deep pit were two figures.
The one leading the way.
Was a young woman dressed in dark black brocade robes.
She had a slender figure and a cold, aloof expression.
And in her hand.
She was actually holding a man, dangling him like a chick.
His face was ashen white, his eyes vacant, and his hair bun was messy.
Clearly, his soul hadn't managed to catch up yet.
Lü Qinghou recognized the arrival, and his expression instantly became strange.
"Wujiang... why... why are you here?"