"Brother Yang Jian, this demon is too powerful—we're no match for him. Let's retreat!"
Defeated, Nezha looked in terror at the blood-colored giant over a hundred feet tall and spoke to Yang Jian.
"Indeed. Let's go back and ask the Jade Emperor to send someone to capture this fiend. Move!"
Yang Jian knew the two of them were no match for the demon before them, so he withdrew his divine form and retreated alongside Nezha.
"Since you're here, don't think about running!"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, incarnated as the Blood God, smiled faintly. With a shake of his body, he unleashed ten thousand beams of blood light, chasing after the fleeing Erlang Shen Yang Jian and Nezha at incredible speed. The blood light wrapped around them, instantly forming ropes that bound them tightly, leaving them unable to move.
"Keep an eye on them—use them as hostages!"
The five hundred thousand heavenly soldiers and generals who had come with Yang Jian and Nezha, seeing the terrifying demon capture two of the most formidable true immortals in the celestial realm in just a few dozen exchanges, panicked and scattered, each fleeing for their lives.
"Hahaha!"
The million-strong demon army behind the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor burst into earth-shaking laughter as the heavenly troops scattered like birds and beasts.
"Warriors of the demon race, follow me and crush the celestial realm!"
Having captured Yang Jian and Nezha, the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor surged with momentum, leading his high-spirited demon army in pursuit of the fleeing celestial forces.
Soon, the slower heavenly soldiers and generals looked back to see billions of blood-colored beams chasing them. Their bodies stiffened, their vital essence drained rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, they were reduced to dried husks!
Along the way, those who flew too slowly let out piercing screams, becoming nourishment for the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor. The rest pushed themselves to the limit, running as if their lives depended on it, cursing that they hadn't been born with extra legs!
As the chase continued, a magnificent gate loomed ahead before both the celestial and demon armies.
"The Southern Heavenly Gate—we've made it! Help!"
The celestial army that had safely reached the Southern Heavenly Gate wept with joy, scrambling through the gate and shouting for aid from the guards within.
By then, the three marshals Zhao, Ma, and Guan had fled the fastest, arriving at the Lingxiao Hall, where they knelt trembling before the Jade Emperor.
"Your Majesty, Erlang Shen Yang Jian and Nezha, the Third Lotus Prince, have both been captured. The demon has led his army to the Southern Heavenly Gate!"
Zhao Gongming knelt before the Jade Emperor, kowtowing frantically, his voice distorted with fear.
The Jade Emperor was stunned! He never imagined that in just one hour, the demon race had fought all the way to the Southern Heavenly Gate!
"Quickly! Summon the Gouchen Emperor to lead the Southern Heavenly Gate defenders against the enemy!"
"Li Jing, hurry to the Western Paradise via the Northern Heavenly Gate and ask the Tathagata Buddha to send reinforcements!"
"Divine Courier, rush to invite the Ziwei Emperor to lead the Northern Heavenly Gate defenders to support the Southern Heavenly Gate!"
"Jade Spirit Officer, notify the Four Great Immortal Sects at once—have their disciples head to the Southern Heavenly Gate to fight!"
Orders poured from the Jade Emperor's mouth. The usually composed ruler was now panicked; if the Southern Heavenly Gate fell and the enemy reached the Lingxiao Hall, it would be a disgrace beyond measure!
"What! The demon army has fought all the way to the Southern Heavenly Gate? That's insane?"
Inside the Changsheng Hall Immortal Sect, Jiang Yuan stared in shock at the Jade Spirit Officer after hearing the news.
"It's absolutely true, Lord Jiang. I can't chat any longer—I must go find the Xuanzhen Wanfu Celestial Venerable!"
The Jade Spirit Officer left a brief word, took his leave of Jiang Yuan, and rushed to the topmost hall of the Changsheng Hall Immortal Sect.
"Brother Jiang Yuan, the sect just sent word for us to head to the Southern Heavenly Gate immediately. Do you know what's happening?"
Soon, Wen Ding Changsheng and the others received the message from the Changsheng Hall Immortal Sect and contacted Jiang Yuan, hoping for inside information.
"Brother Cangsheng, we've got trouble—the demon army has fought all the way to the Southern Heavenly Gate!"
Jiang Yuan replied swiftly, then sent a team invitation to Wen Ding Cangsheng, who accepted immediately and joined the group.
"Holy crap! That intense? Let's go, let's go! And call everyone else in the fixed team!"
Wen Ding Cangsheng was startled and quickly contacted Cang Shu Bu Ding, Ding Ye, and Chuang Shi Xiao Yun.
Soon, the five-man team assembled. They went to the Changsheng Hall Flying Immortal Fairy NPC and teleported to the Southern Heavenly Gate.
"Wow! What a massive scene!"
As soon as they teleported, Ding Ye was awestruck by the sight before him.
Outside the Southern Heavenly Gate stretched an endless sea of demon troops, while inside, countless heavenly soldiers and generals gathered. Led by an immortal wearing an imperial crown and a purple robe, they slowly marched out of the gate.
Before long, disciples from the Huangji Sect, Qingyun Sect, and Qianyuan Sect also received the news and arrived near the Southern Heavenly Gate.
"Who are you, daring to invade the Southern Heavenly Gate?"
The Ziwei Emperor stepped onto auspicious clouds and flew outside the gate, looking at the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, who also wore a crown.
"I am the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, ruler of the demon realm. Are you the Jade Emperor?"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, seeing the visitor's imperial crown, mistook him for the Jade Emperor and asked.
"I am the Northern Pole Ziwei Emperor. When did the demon realm produce a demon emperor?"
The Ziwei Emperor scanned the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor from head to toe, sneering as he noted the other was merely at the demon lord level yet dared to call himself emperor.
"Once I reclaim the Demon Ancestor Rahu's sacred foot, ascending to demon emperor is within reach. Where is the Jade Emperor? Why doesn't he hand over the Demon Ancestor's relic?"
The remnants of the Demon Ancestor Rahu contained the most ancient and pure demonic essence. If the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor could successfully refine it, he might truly soar to the legendary demon emperor realm!
"The Demon Ancestor's remains are utterly evil—they must never fall into demon hands. I tell you, don't even think about it!"
As one of the Four Emperors, the Ziwei Emperor knew full well the value of Rahu's foot and refused outright.
"Hmph! Arrogant words. Let me see if you have the right to say that!"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor sneered, transforming into billions of blood-colored beams and charging at the Ziwei Emperor!
"Warriors of the demon race, attack!"
As the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor moved, the Heavenly Demon King Han Xiaotian roared at the million-strong demon army behind him.
The second great war between immortals and demons erupted at the Southern Heavenly Gate!
"Six Ding protect my spirit, Six Jia guard my form, swiftly as the decree! Six Ding and Six Jia, appear!"
"Beiluoshimen, manifest!"
Seeing the battle begin, Jiang Yuan silently chanted a spell, summoning twelve divine generals and Beiluoshimen, directing them to charge at the demon army!
"At your command!"
The twelve Six Ding and Six Jia divine generals nodded in unison, flashed into the enemy ranks, and began attacking the demon forces!