A few more days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, the Demon Realm remained still, and the tense nerves on the Celestial Realm side couldn't help but relax temporarily.
Players in the game, seeing the once-strained celestial-demon situation inexplicably calm down again, lost interest in spectating and began leveling up and crafting equipment.
On this day, Jiang Yuan clocked in for work at the Criminal Investigation Department as usual, handled a few minor cases, sentenced some people to detention or fines, and earned between 50 and 100 Tai Chi Golden Pills.
Since leveling up to 135, the cultivation required for advancement had become astronomical. Over the past few days, Jiang Yuan had completed daily golden pill quests, sect missions, and battlefields, only gaining one level. However, the upside was a major overhaul of his equipment—using the victory stones obtained from quests, he exchanged for a set of Kun-series gear, significantly boosting his stats.
After enduring until noon, he clocked out, collected 300 Tai Chi Golden Pills, and received a decree from the Jade Emperor, summoning him to the Lingxiao Hall.
Ever since the incident with Demon Ancestor Luohou's foot, the Jade Emperor had been convening court meetings every afternoon to keep tabs on the Demon Realm's movements.
In the Lingxiao Hall, the Seal-Bearing Immortal Official was reading aloud a memorial presented by the Four Marshals to the Jade Emperor.
"Sigh, the Demon Realm army is pressing on the border, yet it's been four or five days, and they still haven't attacked. I really can't figure out what they're up to."
After hearing the memorial from the Four Marshals, the Jade Emperor sighed, rubbed his brow, and spoke with a hint of headache.
"Your Majesty need not worry. These past few days, we've been continuously reinforcing the four border cities. Perhaps the Demon Realm scoundrels, intimidated by Your Majesty's celestial might, are hesitating and dare not invade!"
At that moment, a civil official stepped forward, flattering him.
"It would be best if we could make the demons retreat without a fight. But if they truly dare to attack, I will ensure they never return!"
Hearing this, the Jade Emperor felt somewhat comforted, a regal authority appearing on his face. His gaze, sharp as a torch, fixed on the endless void ahead as he spoke in a low voice.
"Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
All the immortals in the Lingxiao Hall, except for Jiang Yuan, who was a player, prostrated themselves, chanting praises.
............................................
At this time, in a valley two hundred miles outside the border city of Yimu City.
After several days of "secretly crossing the Chencang," the three Demon Lords—West Demon, North Demon, and South Demon—had secretly transported most of their troops here. Only twenty to thirty thousand soldiers remained outside Kuishui City, Gengjin City, and Lihuo City, commanded by the three Demon Lords, playing a "smoke and mirrors" game before the three Marshals at Zhaomaguan.
"Reporting to the Demon Lord, the army has been fully counted, totaling over four hundred thousand!"
Inside the valley, a military officer finished tallying the troops and came to the central command tent to report to East Demon Lord Han Xiaotian.
"Generals under the North Demon, West Demon, and South Demon Lords, listen up. I have an agreement with your masters: I won't directly command you, but you must follow my signal flags. Anyone who dares to disobey will be killed without mercy! Understood?"
The East Demon Lord slowly rose into the air, hands clasped behind his back, a pair of wings formed from surging black demonic energy blotting out the sky. He coldly looked down at the generals belonging to the other three Demon Lords and spoke.
"Understood!"
The generals nodded in unison. For them, it didn't matter who gave the orders, as long as they could earn a living.
"The army advances quietly. No flying, no revealing demonic energy. When we approach within fifty miles of Yimu City, wait for my signal and attack directly!"
After speaking, East Demon Han Xiaotian landed on the ground, suppressed his demonic energy, and in the blink of an eye, transformed into an ordinary mortal, showing no trace of his true identity.
The East Demon Lord waved his hand, and the four-hundred-thousand-strong demon army fell silent, even their footsteps hushed, not daring to make a sound, all advancing toward Yimu City.
Meanwhile, Marshal Wen Qiong, stationed at Yimu City, had grown lax due to the diminishing sounds of provocation outside the city in recent days. This morning, he had gone to Lihuo City to play chess with Marshal Guan.
About two hours later, the four-hundred-thousand-strong demon army slowly moved to a position fifty miles outside Yimu City, dispersing across two large mountains outside the city, hiding and concealing themselves.
Then, the East Demon Lord transformed, turning into an old woman with white hair, one hand holding a cane, the other carrying a basket, tottering toward the gates of Yimu City.
Though the old woman the East Demon Lord had become seemed to walk very slowly, she was actually using the "shrinking the ground into an inch" technique, covering the fifty-mile distance in just a few steps.
"Who goes there? Stop!"
At that moment, the guards at the city gate immediately spotted the uninvited guest below and shouted loudly to halt her.
"Officer, I'm from Gengjin City to the west. Last night, my daughter and the neighbor's son, Goubao, agreed to come to Yimu City to buy lumber, and they haven't returned. I'm worried sick and came looking. Please, officer, do me a favor."
The old woman stopped, leaning on her cane, trembling as she spoke to the guard at the gate.
"Do you have a travel permit from Gengjin City? Let me see it."
Hearing this, the guard immediately reached out to the old woman disguised as the East Demon Lord, asking for the permit.
The old woman, transformed from the East Demon Lord, reached into the basket covered with a white cloth, fumbled around, and actually pulled out a crumpled travel permit, handing it over with trembling hands.
This travel permit was obtained by the East Demon Lord after staking out outside Gengjin City for several days, killing a physician who had gone out to gather herbs, and searching his body.
"Old lady, it's not that we brothers are deliberately making things difficult, but the situation is critical right now. The Marshal has ordered that only exits are allowed, no entries. You'd better go back!"
The guard was cautious, returning the travel permit to the East Demon Lord and refusing to open the gate.
"Officers, please be kind. I miss my daughter terribly. Oh, by the way, please accept these. After your shift, use them to buy some drinks."
The old woman, still the East Demon Lord in disguise, reached into the basket again and pulled out two spirit crystals, handing them to the guard with a fawning smile.
"This..."
"Er Lvzi, I think we should let the old lady in to find her daughter. She's come all this way, it's not easy, right?"
Just as the guard named Er Lvzi was about to refuse, the other guard pushed his shoulder, grabbed the spirit crystals, and pleaded for the old woman.
"Alright, fine!"
Er Lvzi finally nodded and opened the gate of Yimu City with his companion.
"Thank you, officers!"
The East Demon Lord, disguised as the old woman, expressed endless gratitude, tottering into the city. Once fully inside, the hunched old woman's lips curled into a cold smile. With a backhanded palm strike, she instantly shattered the thousand-jin-heavy city gate into pieces!