Volume 3 - Chapter 409: The Great Battle Begins (Part 2)
In every celestial city, countless cries of fervor rang out as people raised their fists, their voices unified in unyielding defiance. Even some aged elders straightened their backs with burning eyes, overcome with emotion.
Too many years had passed. Too many human lives had fallen prey to the mouths of the demon race. Among the living immortals and deities, nearly all had ancestors who had perished at the hands of demons.
This hatred had long since transcended blood and steel. It could never be reconciled. There was only one resolution: to completely wipe one side from the True Realm!
As the realm stone broadcast the scene, countless roars of fury erupted from across the Gusu Imperial Star. The cries from thirty-six thousand celestial cities merged into a terrifying storm of sound that surged across mountains and rivers, swept through the earth and sky, and crashed against the black warship outside Gusu City like a tsunami of rage, causing waves upon waves of reverberations.
It was as if the entire Imperial Star was shouting in unison—
Kill them! Kill the demons!!
This was the humans’ home ground. Such overwhelming might caused the purple-robed man and the others aboard the black warship to darken their expressions slightly, their brows creasing.
The original purpose of the realm stone broadcast had been to humiliate the human prodigies before the world, to crush their confidence, to drown them in despair.
But now, the unified momentum of the human race had far exceeded expectations. The trio aboard the warship even began to worry—would this force of will impact their young ones’ performance?
Even from the far side of the Imperial Star, the roars reached faintly through the void. The prodigies from the three great clans and other noble houses clenched their fists, blood boiling. Determination and killing intent burned in their eyes.
“Enough talk. Let’s get this started,” Jiang Qiuyue said coldly, clearly unwilling to waste even a word on these demonkind.
The purple-robed man released a surge of imperial might that enveloped the black warship, shielding the demon youths behind him from the bloodthirsty cries of tens of thousands of celestial cities. Calmly, he replied:
“I agree. But before we begin, surely we should clarify the rules of engagement?”
At his words, Su Zhenyuan raised his hand. A wave of oppressive might spread outward, gradually quelling the thunderous shouts. His pressure blanketed the entire Imperial Star as he spoke, each word like frozen steel:
“Everyone, this grand battle is a duel between the prodigies of our human race and the demon race. There is only one rule: both sides may wield their respective immortal weapons or demonic blades, consume immortal pills or demonic elixirs. No restrictions. No conditions. Only victory or death!”
His voice echoed through the realm stone, resounding across all of Gusu Imperial Star and into the starlit void beyond.
The thirty-six thousand celestial cities fell into stunned silence.
These words meant only one thing: this was a fight to the death. There would be no surrender. Only one side would leave the battlefield alive.
No doubt remained. This was a deathmatch.
Countless spectators held their breath. They all understood—the ones stepping into battle were the finest of the human race, peerless heroes who would shoulder the glory and future of humanity at the cost of their own lives.
“Good, good, good! I like this kind of fight.”
“How foolish the humans are. Let’s see how Saint Son Qiongjiang devours them all!”
“No rules? Then they’re doomed!”
In the demon domains, countless demons erupted into gleeful laughter. To them, humans were food. That their prey now dared challenge them in a life-or-death match was laughable.
Floating in the void, Su Zhenyuan paused slightly before his voice rang out once more—now even colder and more resolute:
“Since this is a grand battle, there must naturally be stakes.”
He enunciated every word: “If one of our human prodigies is defeated, we will cede a celestial city.”
“If the demon race loses a combatant, they must surrender one of their royal cities— and return one captured prodigy from our border.”
“This battle was proposed by the Seven Demon Clans. Both sides have reached an agreement and sworn an oath upon the Heavenly Dao. There will be no reneging!”
As his declaration spread, both Gusu Imperial City and the demon territories erupted in an uproar.
“A celestial city? Do you know how many people live in one?!”
“If we lose… we lose a whole city?”
“What’s there to fear? The demons lose even more—and have to return our captured prodigies too!”
“Exactly! If we win every match, they’ll owe us twenty royal cities to crush!”
In the celestial cities, countless citizens were stirred into a frenzy, shouting encouragement to the human prodigies who would soon fight. Arms were raised. Morale surged.
But in the demon realms, doubt and unrest began to spread. Many couldn’t understand why their side had to pay such a steep price.
Soon, demon experts appeared and offered explanations—the true aim of this war was to slay the human prodigies.
As discussion raged on all sides, high above, Su Muqing, Su Wanqing, and the others heard Su Zhenyuan’s words—and their expressions tightened.
Even though they had known this in advance, hearing it again now still weighed heavily on their hearts.
They could not afford to lose!
“Why hasn’t Lin Zhexuan arrived?”
Suddenly, Jiang Huanhuan of the Jiang Clan furrowed her delicate brows. Her eyes scanned the Lin Clan members—but that radiant figure was nowhere to be seen. Her expression shifted instantly.
Could it be that the Lin Clan didn’t intend to let their True Dragon take such a risk?
She wasn’t the only one. Other noble prodigies noticed as well, and a chill settled over them. That imperial heir of the Lin Clan was a pillar of the human side. If he didn’t join the battle, they would lose their fiercest asset.
Sensing the concern in their gazes, the head of the Lin Clan, Daoist Lin, maintained a calm expression and spoke in a low voice:
“Rest assured, everyone. Zhexuan is simply making his final preparations. He will not miss this battle.”
Hearing the assurance from the Lin Clan’s current patriarch, the elders of the noble houses finally relaxed a little.
“Come, then. Who will you send first?”
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