Ch. 1325 - The Heavenly Court Attacks

When the Ancestral Warden’s words fell, many of the Ancient Demons’ hearts began to waver.

To be expelled from the Ancient Demon Realm, after all, this was their home.

The Ancestral Warden then looked up at Xu Zimo and said, “Young Master Xu, the Ancient Ancestor asked me to bring you a message. Some matters are better left alone. Don’t take things too far.”

“Don’t take things too far? Is that meant for me, or for him?” Xu Zimo replied. “Go back and tell Hellfire Asura this,” he continued. “For the sake of the time he once served as my Infernal Archon, I will tolerate him, but that does not mean he can do whatever he wants.”

The Ancestral Warden fell silent.

There were some matters he preferred not to get involved in, nothing good would come of it.

“I will report your words truthfully,” the Ancestral Warden finally said, and then stopped speaking to Xu Zimo.

Turning toward the assembled disciples, he asked coldly, “Have you all thought this through?

“Lord Ancestral Warden,” one demon argued, “our people has always followed the Infernal Lord. To expel us without cause violates all rules!”

“What, is the Ancient Ancestor the only law in the Ancient Demon Realm now? Is this realm ruled by his words alone?!” another shouted angrily.

Several Ancient Demons began to question him outright.

But the Ancestral Warden remained calm, his tone steady as he replied, “The Ancient Demon Realm needs peace. If you follow him to war against Heaven, that balance will be broken. To send you away from the Ancient Demon Realm is simply the separation of different paths, nothing more.”

“Ancestral Warden speaks the truth,” Xu Zimo said lightly. “Those who follow me to war will indeed leave this realm. When, or if, you return, no one can say. But this is not exile. You will leave of your own choice.”

With that, the matter was decided.

Some Ancient Demons began to withdraw, and Xu Zimo merely watched in silence, not stopping them.

At this stage, he knew, it was necessary to cast out those who differed from him, to keep only those who shared his conviction.

As more left, the Ancestral Warden’s face darkened.

For although some departed, the vast majority remained, still standing on Dragon Mountain.

“Fools... Have you truly made up your minds?!” the Ancestral Warden asked grimly.

“Lord Ancestral Warden, why do we cultivate?” one demon suddenly stood and asked, meeting the Ancestral Warden’s eyes.

Ancestral Warden frowned slightly. “What are you trying to say?”

“I think everyone here knows the answer. We cultivate to become strong, To avoid being bullied, to protect those we care for. That’s the simplest truth,” the demon said with a bitter smile, before his gaze sharpened, his tone turning cold.

“But now you tell us that no matter how hard we train, we can never become Saint Sovereigns,

“Exactly!” another demon stood up and shouted. “We’re like livestock, pigs being fattened! The Heavenly Dao feeds us now, keeps us content, but when the Lord dies, when the Ancient Demons of the Primordial Demon Cave are destroyed, we’ll be next on the chopping block! Isn’t that right?”

“This…” the Ancestral Warden fell silent.

He wanted to argue, but the truth stood before him. What could he say?

“We are willing to follow the Lord, whether to fight Heaven, or to be shattered to pieces. Whether for the revival of our people, or for ourselves, we will never ever regret it!” a demon roared.

Just then, as the confrontation reached a standstill, a loud commotion broke out.

“Ancient Ancestor! Save us!” a desperate voice cried from beyond Dragon Mountain.

Everyone frowned and turned toward the sound.

A demon, covered in blood, stumbled toward them, fleeing in panic.

“What’s going on?” the Ancestral Warden demanded.

The demon collapsed, rolling across the ground before he could steady himself.

“Look at yourself, what sort of disgrace is this? Is the sky falling?” the Ancestral Warden snapped coldly.

“The sky has truly fallen…” the demon gasped, nodding weakly.

No sooner had he spoken than the air shook with booming explosions.

The crowd’s expressions changed instantly. In the Ancient Demon Realm, everyone recognized that sound, someone was attacking the realm’s barrier.

“What’s happening?” the Ancestral Warden barked. “Speak clearly!”

“It’s the Heavenly Court!” the bloodied demon cried. “They’re attacking!”

“The Heavenly Court… they…” the Ancestral Warden began, then stopped himself, glancing toward Xu Zimo. His heart suddenly clenched.

He understood now.

The Heavenly Court’s pressure had been looming for some time.

And now, with Xu Zimo openly recruiting followers within the Ancient Demon Realm, the Heavenly Court would no longer sit idle.

They were moving personally.

Still, the Ancestral Warden reasoned silently, the Nine Heavens were connected, but traveling from one to another was no simple task.

The Heavenly Court could not send its armies en masse from the Calamity Immortal Heaven to invade the Godfiend Abyss Heaven.

So perhaps there was still room to maneuver.

“Has the Ancient Ancestor been notified?” the Ancestral Warden asked the wounded demon.

“Yes, but the Ancient Ancestor hasn’t responded,” the disciple answered cautiously.

“Come with me, we’ll meet them in battle!” the Ancestral Warden said, casting one last look at Xu Zimo before flying off into the distance.

Once he was gone, silence fell across Dragon Mountain.

The Ancient Demons looked at one another, each deep in thought.

Then the Demon Sage stepped forward and asked, “My Lord, what are your orders?”

“Do you wish to save the Ancient Demon Realm?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Yes!” the Ancient Demons shouted in unison.

“This is our home. Of course we’ll fight for it. And the Heavenly Court, we’ll crush them all!”

“The Ancient Demon Realm must be protected,” Xu Zimo said calmly. “Let it remain as a pure land. But as for those Ancient Demons outside, I will not save them.”

He looked around at the crowd. “You all know why.”

Those Ancient Demons, the ones who had left Dragon Mountain, had chosen comfort over conviction.

From that moment on, they and Xu Zimo had ceased to be connected.

Even if they were slaughtered to the last, it would have nothing to do with him.

“They chose an easy life,” Xu Zimo said softly. “Then they must pay the price. The Ancient Demon Race will never know peace, for Heaven itself forbids it. If you truly crave a peaceful world, then overthrow this Old Villainous Heaven. Otherwise, peace will never exist under it.”

“We understand,” the Ancient Demons answered loudly.

“My Lord, what shall we do now?”

“Wait,” Xu Zimo said simply.

“The Heavenly Court’s target is us, they will come soon enough.”

Though anxiety gnawed at them, none dared act without his command.

In the distance, explosions continued to shake the land, battle after battle raging outside the barrier.

But in the end, the gates of the Ancient Demon Realm were shattered completely.

The Ancient Demons scattered, some fled, others were slain, until corpses carpeted the ground.

The Heavenly Court wasted no time.

Locking onto Xu Zimo’s position, their forces surged forward.

Straight toward Dragon Mountain.

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