While the Undead were advancing triumphantly and the battlefields of demons and pirates were both flourishing, the Martial Arts Alliance had also turned the tide.
Since Bu Xingtian brought back the hidden weapons containing the demon plague, these small devices had become essential for martial artists.
Without a few in their pockets, they didn't feel secure.
Encounter a demon? Throw a hidden weapon first.
Demons launching a fierce assault? Keep throwing them.
All the demons are down? Still keep... well, if they're all down, don't throw anymore, just keep one ready in hand.
When a Hellgate suddenly appeared in the middle of the battlefield again, the demons had barely surged out before hundreds of hidden weapon pellets containing the lethal plague flew toward them.
The pellets were triggered by the martial artists' true qi mid-air, exploding violently. The plague inside spread rapidly with the shockwave.
First minute of contact: The demons' already crimson skin became even more swollen.
Second minute: Small pimples bulged on the swollen skin.
Third minute: The pimples grew rapidly, pus about to burst out.
Fourth minute: The abscesses erupted. Pus carrying swarms of the plague splashed everywhere, further expanding the infection area.
Fifth minute: Wounds began to fester, and muscles grew weak.
By this stage, many demons realized what was happening and began mobilizing the flames within their bodies to cauterize the wounds, intending to suppress the plague with fire.
However, this plague, specifically designed for demons, naturally possessed a degree of resistance to the fire element.
The flames of ordinary demons were completely ineffective. Only demons of the Legendary tier or higher, whose internal flames had begun transforming into hellfire, possessed a sliver of resistance.
Sixth minute: Ordinary demons lost all strength. Festering muscles could no longer support their bodies. With their kin continuing to surge from behind, the infected demons were trampled into piles of rotten meat.
Seventh minute: Only demons of the Legendary tier or higher retained their combat effectiveness.
The transformed hellfire within them protected their bodies, alleviating the symptoms caused by the plague.
But the hellfire was also restricted by the plague, rendering it unusable as a means of offense.
Demons in this state and number could not last long against the swarms of fierce martial artists; their heads were soon severed, and their lives lost.
With the help of the plague, the situation in the various battlefields opened by the Martial Arts Alliance gradually stabilized. The martial artists had ample time to rest and recover their breath.
However, the angel priests responsible for these battlefields felt something was wrong. Having fought Hell for many years, they had never seen the demons use such suicidal tactics.
With every churn of the Original Blood Sea, hundreds of millions of demons crawled out. But no matter how high the number, they couldn't afford to be sent to their deaths like this.
To be safe, the angel priest reported this strange situation to their direct superior, the Light Priest known as the Son of Holy Light.
Before the Light Priest could arrive to handle it, the priest ordered the entire Heavenly Expeditionary Force to stop advancing and instead garrison within the defensive cities to preserve their strength.
The martial artists also noticed the Heavenly Expeditionary Force's actions. Though puzzled, they ignored it.
It was better if the Heavenly Pantheon's people didn't interfere; it saved the demons from being killed by the Expeditionary Force, which would waste the kill quotas.
This was a war of vengeance, but even more so, it was a war of promotion.
Not a single martial artist present had forgotten the reward conditions announced by their masters before departure.
“Outer sect disciples: Slay ten thousand demons to enter the inner sect.”
“Inner sect disciples: Slay a hundred million demons to become a progeny.”
“Progeny: Kill an archduke or a demon king to receive Li Taiji's teaching.”
These three sentences were the ultimate stimulant, exciting the martial artists' nerves and driving them to kill demons tirelessly.
Under the traditional promotion process, who knew how many years it would take to climb one level? Now, they just had to kill demons. No one wanted to give up such a great opportunity.
While the martial artists fought bravely, severing one demon head after another, the demon blood seemed to be drawn by some mysterious force, rapidly seeping into the ground.
Beneath the surface, the blood continued to permeate downward as if it were alive.
The demon blood was thick and scorching. It completely destroyed the underground environment of this world, scorching away all nutrients and polluting everything.
The blood's destination was deep within the core of the world. There lay a massive, flat egg. Inside the egg was a mass of chaotic substance.
It had no form—whether it hadn't reached the point of hatching or was born that way was unknown.
The cultivation realms of the outer and inner sect martial artists were limited; their perception could not detect the anomaly deep in the core.
And the progeny who did have the perception were all tied down by the Hell Archdukes.
Inside the world was the battlefield for those below the Eternal tier. Outside the world, in the void, was the battlefield of the Eternals.
Following the orders of Phili, the Demon King of Lies, the Hell Archdukes had uncharacteristically united to launch an attack against the Dao Lords' progeny.
Soldier against soldier, general against general—each had their own tasks and did not interfere with one another.
As for the high-and-mighty martial Dao Lords like Li Taiji, they did not look at the battlefield inside the world below. Instead, they focused on the Eternal battlefield in the void outside.
The title of 'Progeny' carried immense weight. Naturally, the Dao Lords would not let anything happen to them. They focused all their energy on that battlefield to ensure they could intervene and rescue them immediately if any emergency occurred.
This situation seemed favorable to the martial artists, but in Hell, Phili, the Demon King of Lies, was equally satisfied with the current state of affairs.
The serpent-tailed, human-bodied demon still had his tail submerged in the boiling magma. He rubbed his hands together nervously, muttering in a low voice.
“Soon, soon... just one more batch. One more batch of demon blood, and the fruit will ripen.”
Suddenly, a crazed voice echoed from all directions, like the wrath of heaven and earth or the trembling of the world.
“Phili!”
Upon hearing this voice, every demon in Hell knelt on the ground, bowing their heads and trembling slightly.
Some of the more cowardly ones even buried their heads in the magma.
Phili was no better. His serpent tail, which had been in the magma, snapped back instantly like a coiled spring.
Phili quickly turned toward the center of Hell, lowered his head, and said cautiously.
“Mother.”
“How far along is the plan?”
“Mother, we only need one final batch of demon blood for the Blood Demon Embryo to hatch.”
“Very good, very good.”
Hearing the Mother of Hell's praise, Phili's eyebrows twitched with excitement. He continued somewhat lightheartedly.
“I plan to launch the final assault tomorrow, allowing the Blood Demon Embryo to hatch the day after. By then, Mother, you will be able to...”
Before Phili could finish, the Mother of Hell interrupted him.
“Not tomorrow. Now! Launch the attack now!”
“Mother, but...”
“There are no 'buts,' my child. You only need to do as you are told.”
Phili felt the heavy gaze of the Mother of Hell, and the pressure instantly forced his head lower.
Mother had been getting less and less lucid lately. One moment she was praising him, the next she was on the verge of rage.
Phili didn't dare argue further and could only comply.
“Yes, Mother.”
The Demon King slithered backward, leaving Hell to personally organize the final assault.
The Mother of Hell, the ruler of Hell and the nightmare of the myriad worlds, was currently curled up like an infant, lying in the deepest depths of the Original Blood Sea.
On her soul, five holes had appeared. Many cracks extended from these holes, crawling all over her soul.
The cracks seemed to cause immense agony, making the ruler mutter continuously.
“Soon... soon...”
Rate on N.U.
