Outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, millions from the immortal and demon realms were mixed together, locked in fierce combat.
Above the clouds, the Northern Pole Purple Star Emperor had exchanged over a hundred moves with the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor and was already showing signs of defeat!
Boom!
A fist formed from purple-blue light clashed head-on with the Blood God giant, who had transformed into a towering figure over ten zhang tall. Both sides recoiled, and the Purple Star Emperor thought to himself in surprise, "Who exactly is this person? How is he so formidable?"
"Heh, mere Immortal Realm Emperor, nothing special!"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor condensed into the Blood God form, his body radiating a crimson light that shot into the sky. He glanced at the Purple Star Emperor across from him, spoke with contempt, then lunged forward, attacking the Purple Star Emperor once more!
Below the clouds, the demon side also had three Emperor-level powerhouses—the Heavenly Demon King, the Corpse Demon King, and the Slaughter Demon King—holding the line, beating the Southern Heavenly Gate defenders until they had no chance to fight back!
"Yuanzi, if this keeps up, we're going to lose!"
Ding Ye had already revived three times. Facing the tidal wave of demon bosses, even Ding Ye, known as the number one tank in the Dragon Kingdom, felt immense strain. Especially those three Demon King-level bosses—they were simply unkillable!
Behind Jiang Yuan, the summoned army grew larger and larger. By now, he had successfully captured ten demon generals of various ranks using the [Spirit Contract], plus twelve Six Ding Six Jia Divine Generals, totaling over twenty!
"Let's focus on the bosses we can actually hurt. Those big ones are beyond us for now."
Hearing Ding Ye's words, Jiang Yuan turned to reply, then signaled the fixed team to target weaker bosses specifically.
But even as Jiang Yuan worked hard to reduce the demon army's numbers, their own side was suffering heavy losses against the three Emperor-level demon experts!
Of the million heavenly soldiers, fewer than half remained. The thirty Southern Heavenly Gate defenders were nearly wiped out. Among the Four Great Marshals, Ma Yuanjun had fallen in battle, Zhao Gongming was gravely wounded, and only Guan Yu, wielding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, remained unscathed!
"Everyone, retreat to the Southern Heavenly Gate!"
At that moment, the Northern Pole Purple Star Emperor suddenly descended from above the clouds and addressed the immortal generals.
Jiang Yuan turned to look and saw that the Purple Star Emperor wasn't faring much better. Large patches of skin on his body had become withered and lusterless, and his overall spirit was poor, as if he had fallen gravely ill.
"Let's go, we're pulling back too!"
Seeing the immortal army beginning to retreat toward the Southern Heavenly Gate, Jiang Yuan called out to his four teammates and withdrew inside.
The Purple Star Emperor waved his hand, sending out several streams of immortal energy to set up a barrier over the Southern Heavenly Gate, blocking the demon army, then led the remaining troops to the Southern Heavenly Gate camp.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?"
Inside the central army tent of the Southern Heavenly Gate, Guan Yu, leaning on his Green Dragon Blade, looked at the Purple Star Emperor, whose flesh in many places had become shriveled, and asked with concern.
"It's nothing. I'm just a bit depleted in qi and blood; a short rest will suffice. Marshal Guan, you lead the defenders to hold the Southern Heavenly Gate. I must see the Jade Emperor."
The Purple Star Emperor waved his hand, signaling to Guan Yu, gave his instructions, then rose and summoned a cloud, standing atop it as he flew toward the Lingxiao Palace.
"Purple Star Emperor, how goes the battle?"
In the Lingxiao Palace, the Jade Emperor saw the Purple Star Emperor entering the hall and quickly stood to ask.
"Your Majesty, that demon, though only at the Demon Lord realm, is extremely troublesome. His techniques are bizarre and unmatched. I am no match for him."
Facing the Jade Emperor's question, the Purple Star Emperor shook his head, directly admitting he couldn't defeat the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor.
"Even the Purple Star Emperor can't handle that demon? What are we to do then!"
The Purple Star Emperor's combat prowess was second only to the True Warrior Demon-Subduing Emperor. If even he couldn't overcome that mysterious demon, the Jade Emperor grew anxious, unsure who to send next to resist.
"Your Majesty, disaster! The Southern Heavenly Gate has been breached by the demons. Marshal Zhao Gongming died fighting. Marshal Guan is leading the remaining defenders, fleeing toward the Lingxiao Palace!"
At the grim news, the Jade Emperor could no longer sit still and quickly called out, "Prepare my carriage. I will face this demon myself."
A crowd of immortals, great and small, immediately escorted the Jade Emperor out of the Lingxiao Palace. They hadn't flown far on their clouds when they encountered the panicked Southern Heavenly Gate defenders.
"Your Majesty! It's Your Majesty!"
The Southern Heavenly Gate defenders suddenly saw a large group of immortals ahead. Focusing their eyes, they quickly spread the word, then knelt in a dark mass on the spot.
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live, long live, long live!"
"Rise, all of you! What time is this to bother with such formalities!"
The Jade Emperor looked at the disheveled defenders and waved his hand impatiently, signaling them all to stand.
"Marshal Guan, what's the situation at the Southern Heavenly Gate?"
The Jade Emperor asked, his face dark as he looked at Guan Yu.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Southern Heavenly Gate has been breached. The Gouchen Emperor is fighting the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor alone. He ordered us to retreat to the Heavenly Pillar Mountain and requests Your Majesty to send reinforcements!"
Guan Yu clasped his fists and spoke rapidly to the Jade Emperor.
"Retreat, retreat, always retreat! If we keep this up, the face of our immortal realm will be lost! Pass my decree: reorganize the army and follow me to the Southern Heavenly Gate!"
The Jade Emperor, displeased, issued the order. Guan Yu immediately turned to muster the retreating Southern Heavenly Gate defenders, then reversed direction, becoming the Jade Emperor's vanguard, clearing the way ahead.
Jiang Yuan and his team, at the rear of the formation, followed the army back to the Southern Heavenly Gate, just in time to see the Gouchen Emperor, transformed into a hundred-zhang giant, locked in a brawl with the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, who had become the Blood God.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each clash of their fists shook the earth, causing the ground to tremble violently.
"Gouchen Emperor, I'll assist you!"
In front of the Jade Emperor, the Purple Star Emperor immediately called out to the Gouchen Emperor ahead, flying forward to manifest his dharma form and join forces with the Gouchen Emperor against the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At that moment, three figures shot out from the demon army—the three Demon Emperors subdued by the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor.
"Heh! Do you think the demon realm has no one?"
The Heavenly Demon King Han Xiaotian manifested his true demon form, with curved horns sprouting from his head and his body wrapped in black scales. He coldly eyed the Gouchen Emperor and the Purple Star Emperor ahead and snorted.
"Insolent wretches of the demon realm, how dare you be so arrogant! Hmph!"
Seeing the three Demon Emperors step forward, the Jade Emperor immediately flew up, positioning himself between the Gouchen and Purple Star Emperors, and faced the demon Emperor-level figures before him.
At that moment, the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, seeing that even the Jade Emperor—the sole Great Heavenly Sovereign of the immortal realm—had joined the fray, stopped and stepped back a few paces, standing before the three Demon Kings as he looked at the Jade Emperor and asked, "So, you're the Jade Emperor?"