Five Immortals Mountain.
As soon as those three words were spoken, the room fell silent.
The civil and military officials were surprisingly unanimous, all keeping as quiet as cicadas in winter.
Shocked, fearful, or disdainful—their expressions varied, but none dared speak another word.
Five Immortals Mountain was no ordinary mountain.
Located in the Central Plains, it was hidden from the world; rumors said there were Immortals within the mountain who consumed clouds and drank dew, their Dao reaching the profound, ageless and Immortal, living as long as heaven and earth.
Since the founding of the dynasty by the First Emperor, a covenant had been made with Five Immortals Mountain.
The Great Tang would suppress the Demons of the mortal world, while Five Immortals Mountain would remain pure and free, unconcerned with mortal affairs.
Both sides were at peace, not interfering with each other.
But now, the First Emperor had long since passed away, and the covenant was like a flickering candle in the wind, precarious and crumbling.
In recent years, Demons had run rampant, and the Great Tang had suffered repeated disasters, yet Five Immortals Mountain had shown no intention of lending a hand.
Now that the enemy was at the gates, to ask for help again—wouldn't that be inviting humiliation?
However, every word Elder Cheng spoke was precious and came from the bottom of his heart.
Mount Ling's power was immense, with countless Demon Emperors, not something ordinary strength could resist.
Relying solely on the current Great Tang, even if everything was exhausted, it would be a drop in the bucket, unable to turn the tide.
"Elder Cheng..."
The Emperor's voice was low as he slowly said, "In your opinion, how would this Five Immortals Mountain respond?"
Elder Cheng sighed, cupped his hands, and said, "Replying to Your Majesty, Five Immortals Mountain has always practiced in seclusion and ignored worldly affairs. However, not all Immortals can remain detached from everything; surely, they would not wish to see the living beings of the Great Tang plunge into misery, leading to Demons running wild across the world."
"It's just that seeking help from the Immortal Mountain naturally comes with a price. As for how great that price is, it is not something for us mortals to speculate. But even so, it is better than sitting and waiting for death..."
Hearing this, the Emperor slowly closed his eyes.
Images of the tragic scenes in Jiannan Circuit and Region, where the flames of war raged and countless citizens became food for Demons, surfaced in his mind.
He also thought of White Jade Tower's exhausted state... The Great Tang... seemed to truly have no other way... "Pass my decree!"
The Emperor snapped his eyes open. "Prepare a State Letter and dispatch Envoys to Five Immortals Mountain to seek their help!"
Taking this step, the Great Tang might no longer be the pure Great Tang.
But for the sake of the state and the people, for these ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains.
Even if it was like drinking poison to quench thirst, he would not hesitate!
Meanwhile.
Jiannan Circuit.
Baxi Commandery City.
The bloody battle was in full swing.
Since Jiang Yuechu killed the Mountain-Viewing Realm Demon Venerable and stepped into the torrent of Demons outside the city.
Her blood-colored figure had become a nightmare for the Demons.
In black clothes and a crimson cloak, as she swung her Great Halberd, blood mist flew and Demons wailed.
White Qi swirled around her; ordinary Demons couldn't even get close before being slaughtered.
Fierce fires soared into the sky, leaving only scorched earth in their wake.
Until the last Demon's body was shattered by a strike from the Great Halberd.
The crimson cloak then fell still.
The blood mist dispersed, and the cold wind abruptly ceased.
[Current Dao Cultivation: 379,845 years]
Jiang Yuechu indifferently raised her hand and made a grasping motion toward the messy corpses on the ground.
Surging essence qi gathered from all directions, turning into thousands of torrents.
The essence qi poured in, but it only circled the foot of the mountain within her body before silently dissipating into the world.
Hmm?
Jiang Yuechu's brow furrowed slightly, then slowly smoothed out.
Her Mountain Gazing realm had reached Perfection, and there was no more room for progress in her Qi Sea.
To go further, she had to break through to the Lamp-Lighting realm.
Only... Jiang Yuechu was a bit conflicted.
The Yin Mountain Scroll was not yet complete. If she rashly broke through now, who knew if she could still condense the Yin Mountain in the future?
If she couldn't condense it after breaking through, wouldn't that be a huge loss?
Jiang Yuechu made up her mind.
Better to add points first.
In the distance.
On the long street.
The surviving Demon Suppression Guards and soldiers were all dumbstruck.
They stared blankly at the figure in black standing amidst the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, watching the city full of Demons turn to ash in an instant.
Someone rubbed their eyes in disbelief, fearing that all this was just a dream before death.
After a long time.
In the deathly silent city.
Finally, someone strained their raspy voice and let out a loud howl.
"The imperial court's reinforcements..."
"Are here—!!!"
...With that roar, shadows began to move at the street corners and behind the ruins.
First in twos and threes, then in hundreds and thousands.
Figures walked out from the shadows one after another.
There was no wailing, nor any cheering.
They just walked numbly, on and on.
Not until they saw the mangled remains of the Demons on the ground and the figure standing amidst the mountain of corpses and sea of blood outside the city.
Only then did a glimmer of life gradually return to their dead eyes.
A young Captain who had lost an arm ignored his injuries and stumbled toward Jiang Yuechu.
"Your Highness... we... we..."
Words of gratitude were stuck in his throat, but he couldn't say a single word.
Jiang Yuechu's expression softened, and she said gently, "You've worked hard."
"..."
Just one sentence.
But the young Captain couldn't help but raise his remaining arm to cover his face, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
A moment later.
Jiang Yuechu then asked, "How many men are left in the Jiannan Provincial Command?"
"Replying to Your Highness, all commanderies south of Baxi Commandery have fallen. The nearby remnants have about a few dozen people left, plus some guards and able-bodied men who resisted on their own, totaling... about a hundred."
Jiang Yuechu nodded, her expression calm.
"In that case, wait here. If reinforcements from other circuits arrive, let them take over this land."
"Ah?"
The young Captain looked up sharply, his face full of confusion.
What did that mean?
He opened his mouth, wanting to ask more.
But he saw the figure in black had already turned around and walked straight into a dilapidated house by the street.
Leaving only the back of a crimson cloak as red as blood.
The young Captain stood there, dazed.
After a while.
He suddenly snapped out of it, his eyes filled with shock.
Could it be... Your Highness is going to reclaim this entire circuit by herself?!balance
...Closing the door behind her.
Jiang Yuechu slowly exhaled, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in her mind.
At this point, thinking too much was useless.
Only by increasing her strength could she stand firm.
Until she made those Demons across the sky pay back their blood debts.
Holding over 370,000 years of Dao Cultivation.
In this life, Jiang Yuechu had never fought such a "rich" battle.
Her mind sank into her Sea of Consciousness, no longer hesitating.
"Infuse, Crimson Scale Demon Venerable."
Boom—!!!balance
Her Sea of Consciousness surged, and golden light flared.
The ancient scroll slowly unfurled.
But this time.
It didn't show a complete, continuous memory of a life as it had before.
Rumble—
Only extremely fragmented images flooded into her mind.
It cost a full 60,000-plus years of Dao Cultivation!
[Successfully upgraded Crimson Scale Demon Venerable to crimson dye, received Demon's gift]
[Dragon Transformation Scripture · Fragment 3 (Perfection)]
As the text appeared.
Extremely profound information flooded into her mind.
A sharp light flashed in Jiang Yuechu's eyes.
She didn't stop.
Since she had started, she would do it in one go!
Continue!
Another 75,890 years of Dao Cultivation were spent.
In her Sea of Consciousness.
The figure of the Red Flood Dragon became increasingly solid, and its dull, rigid vertical pupils suddenly lit up with two points of golden light.
Like dotting the eyes of a painted dragon.
[Successfully upgraded Crimson Scale Demon Venerable to dotting the eyes, received Demon's gift]
[Dragon Transformation Scripture · Fragment 3 (supreme)]