Li Qianyuan's figure disappeared outside the door.
The woman withdrew her gaze, a flash of disgust crossing her eyes.
Longevity.
What a fine 'longevity.'
She hailed from Spirit Mountain.
Inheriting the orthodox lineage of the Taibai Metal Virtue, she practiced the great cultivation methods of Consuming Mist and Qi, nurturing the spirit, and uniting with the Dao.
Seeking a lifespan as long as heaven and earth, as eternal as the sun and moon.
Even a great demon knows that family bonds are constant and Bloodline is the root.
But this person before her...
As an emperor, he eats the flesh of his kin and drinks the blood of his siblings.
Using the masses as firewood and the realm as a furnace.
Carrying out such a genocidal plan and a plot to devour his own son.
Even if he truly could steal that sliver of life and attain immortality...
What kind of filthy, foul longevity would that be?
The woman's eyes turned slightly cold.
However...
She had thought that the Great Tang's power was waning and she could suppress it alone... but until the day before, when she caught a distant glimpse of Chang'an, she felt her blood stagnate and her Divine Soul become uneasy, let alone venturing deep into it.
If not for that, why would she associate with such a beast?
Conspiring with such a beastly fellow was indeed loathsome.
But it was better than facing the risk directly... "Forget it... in any case, the outcome is the same... once I have avenged my son, I won't have to witness such filthiness again."
...Jiang Yuechu stood in the hall, her expression calm. After a moment of thought, she asked, "Is it the Western Regions Demon Court?"
Zhao Zhongliu slowly shook his head and said, "Your Highness may not know, but the Demon Emperor of the Western Regions Demon Court was severely wounded by the Late Emperor years ago. Although he lingers on now, he is nothing more than a watchdog. Even with ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare to provoke us at this time."
"As for the Longyou Circuit, although the Longyou Commandery is short-staffed and weak, Wandering Dust Master is stationed there. In the Half-Step Ran Deng realm, even if he encounters a Randeng Demon Sage, as long as they don't use the Randeng Secret Technique, he can hold them off for a while. It's impossible for him to watch the demons break through Yumen Pass. As for the Jiannan Provincial Command, their funds, grain, and equipment are all top-notch, and their Commander is at Lotus Seed Perfection, only one step away from Mountain Gazing."
"Overnight, two circuits have fallen into ruin, and dozens of cities have been captured... To carry out such a lightning strike with such scale, in all the Western Regions, there is only one power."
"Spirit Mountain."
"..."
As soon as these two words were spoken...
The several Deputy Generals present all trembled, their faces turning pale.
Everyone's eyes drifted, intentionally or not, toward the Girl in Black Robes.
All present held high positions in the General Bureau and naturally knew that among the corpses of the Great Demons of the Lotus Cultivation Realm sent back by You Wujiang a few days ago, there were demons of the Golden-Winged Great Peng lineage.
The reason Spirit Mountain was attacking now with such lightning speed and leaving no way out...
Was likely... Jiang Yuechu's expression remained calm, without the slightest hint of avoidance.
Killing was killing.
If it happened again, she would do the same.
Zhao Zhongliu snorted coldly and scanned the crowd. "What are you all looking at Her Highness for? Do you think Her Highness provoked Spirit Mountain and brought about this catastrophic disaster?"
The Deputy Generals quickly lowered their heads, repeatedly saying they wouldn't dare.
"Wouldn't dare?"
Zhao Zhongliu flicked his sleeve and scolded, "I think you dare quite a lot!"
"But do you know that the Demon Suppression Division was established by the Great Ancestor when the dynasty was founded? It suppresses demons and kills monsters. What is a demon? Anyone who harms the common people is a demon... What is a monster? Anyone who disrupts our mountains and rivers is a monster!"
"Now that it's our generation's turn, if someone shits on our necks, do we have to ask who their father is first? If they have a big background, are we supposed to stick out our faces and let them hit us?"
"If we're afraid of Spirit Mountain today and avoid the Demon Emperor tomorrow, will our Demon Suppression Division have to bow and make way for a stray dog that's become a spirit in the future?!"
"Timid, hesitant, afraid of this and that."
"We might as well take down the plaque of the Demon Suppression Division sooner rather than later and go home to raise our kids. Wouldn't that be more pleasant?"
As soon as these words were spoken...
The Deputy Generals who had looked uneasy earlier all nodded in agreement.
The Demon Suppression Division had carried the destiny of the Great Tang for eight hundred years; it was naturally not a monolithic entity.
Though their stances might differ and their selfishness might vary in depth...
In the end, who among those who could wear this black cloak and sit in their current positions was truly someone who feared death?
Just as Zhao Zhongliu said.
The demons were already riding on their heads, trying to break the spine of the Great Tang.
How could they have any reason to retreat even half a step?
If there was to be a war...
Then let there be war!
Seeing the reignited Battle Intent in the hall, some color finally returned to Zhao Zhongliu's face.
He turned around and bowed to Jiang Yuechu. "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. The neighboring circuits have already sent troops to provide support through the night. His Majesty will surely take action soon."
At this point, the old man's voice paused, his lips quivered as if he wanted to say something.
In the end, it turned into a long sigh.
According to his private thoughts, Jiang Yuechu's talent was peerless. If she rashly entered a dangerous place at this moment, it might cut off the hope of the Great Tang's revival.
At such a time, she should remain in Chang'an rather than personally stepping into Jiannan and Longyou, which had already become desperate lands.
But as the Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Headquarters, how could he say such words?
Jiang Yuechu naturally understood his underlying meaning.
However, putting everything else aside...
Now that her Dao Cultivation was at its bottom, how could she miss such a heaven-sent opportunity for wealth delivered to her door?
She ignored the old man's hesitation. "Between the two circuits, which is more urgent?"
"..."
Zhao Zhongliu sighed deeply in his heart.
As expected.
With Her Highness's personality, it was impossible for her to stay quietly in Chang'an no matter what.
"Naturally, it's the Jiannan Circuit."
"Yizhou Prefecture has fallen, the Commander has died in battle, and the remnants of the Demon Suppression Division have retreated to Baxi Commandery. According to the last message, the demon vanguard is already at the city gates."
Zhao Zhongliu paused, his tone becoming increasingly strained.
"I'm afraid they won't last much longer."
"As for the Longyou Circuit, although the demons are also coming on strong, it doesn't seem like their main force is there. It seems more like... something done in passing."
After hearing this, Jiang Yuechu simply nodded slightly as an acknowledgment.
Without another word, she turned and left.
Her black robes fluttered, stirring a slight breeze, and she was already outside the hall.
"Your Highness..."
Zhao Zhongliu instinctively raised his hand, wanting to call her back.
But the girl did not look back.
Watching that figure disappear outside the door, Zhao Zhongliu stood in a daze, his eyes filled with complexity.
In the end... she is different.
This Highness had lived adrift since childhood and ultimately did not pick up the temperament of those royal scions born into luxury and raised by women.
In those people's eyes, the common people of the world were nothing more than grass to be stepped on at will, insignificant numbers.
Even if the sky were to fall...
All they would think about is how to preserve their own lives and how to continue their wealth.
But in her eyes, there are the mountains and rivers, and there are the people.
Therefore, when she heard that the two circuits had fallen and the people were suffering...
She didn't ask how dangerous the trip would be, nor did she ask what Spirit Mountain's background was.
She only asked one question: which place was more urgent.
And then she went.
Such Heart-Nature, such responsibility.
Zhao Zhongliu let out a long breath of turbid air.
He felt a mysterious surge of hot blood in his body.
He scanned the others who were also in a daze and snorted coldly. "What are you all still standing there for? Pass down the order: let everyone from the Demon Suppression Division stationed in Chang'an get ready."
"Since Her Highness has already gone ahead, how can we..."
"Sit here in peace?!"