I Pick up a Lost Godhood

This was Chi Ying’s way of dealing with problems. To handle the Dragon Race, one had to strike where they were most afraid. As long as she had a solution to the core issue, she wasn’t afraid of taking heavy losses.

It was the same for dealing with the Burning Castle. The Burning Castle’s combat strength stemmed from its strange morale and unity, which didn’t match the intelligence the Demon Race had gathered. The Holy Hall had never even been on the Demon Race’s radar before. For it to rise so suddenly, grow so rapidly, and now become the main force of the Burning Castle was truly unbelievable.

Wang Meng was an even stranger case. No one had ever heard of such a person before. He had no deep background, yet he appeared out of nowhere and managed to shore up a weakness in the Star Alliance, holding Chi Qing’s grand army at bay here.

Chi Ying didn’t think her fourth sister was an idiot, but her kin all thought like the Demon Race. Chi Ying, however, was an expert on humans. She understood the Star Alliance inside and out and even held a great deal of admiration for it. If not for the Star Alliance’s existence and preparations, the Demon Race would have swept through the Small Thousand Realm long ago.

If she had her choice, she would have targeted Jii Wanli. An ambitious man often had many weaknesses. But she had to consider the bigger picture. Since Wang Meng was the one they were facing, he had to be eliminated.

In the continuous battles across the three vanguard cities, the bombardment from the Elemental Cannons of the city defense Grand Arrays made it difficult for the Demons to achieve anything without paying a considerable price.

But when the Demons retreated, Zhang Xiaojiang and the others didn’t dare waste Spirit Stones. They had already consumed a great deal over the past three years. Although they received supplies from the Small Thousand Realm, no one could guarantee what kind of battles the future held. They needed to maintain their reserves. If he didn’t even understand that simple principle, he couldn’t be a City Guard.

Clearly, by repelling the Demon Race time and again through sheer willpower, the Cultivators of the Burning Castle had built up immense confidence. Every victory made them stronger.

Hu Jing also gradually relaxed. Although she still couldn’t figure out what the enemy was planning, the current situation was favorable. They had killed a significant number of Demons and members of the Demon Race, while the enemy had gained nothing.

「At the outpost...」

’Could this attack just be to destroy the outposts?’

’That seems like a massive overreaction.’

If there was anything to worry about, it was Zhao Lingxuan and her team. They were the elite of the Holy Hall. She figured that even if the Teleportation Array was cut off, it wouldn’t be too difficult for them to return to the city with their strength.

After repelling the Demon Race, the latest news arrived: Zhao Lingxuan and her team had not yet returned.

"I’ll go check on them," Zhang Xiaojiang said.

Hu Jing nodded. Strategically speaking, it was not the time to take risks. But they couldn’t just abandon Zhao Lingxuan. Among the second generation of the Holy Hall, Zhao Lingxuan’s talent guaranteed she would become a pillar of strength. Nothing could happen to her.

In truth, these kinds of agonizing and painful decisions arose every day. She had to make a choice.

"You hold down Ironblood City. I’ll make the trip," Hu Jing said.

"Errands like this are better left to me. You’re more useful holding down the fort," Zhang Xiaojiang said.

Hu Jing smiled faintly. "The Demon Race won’t be able to pull any new tricks. Your ability to boost morale is better than mine. Let me go. What, you don’t trust me?"

Zhang Xiaojiang chuckled. "Be careful."

Hu Jing nodded.

Meanwhile, Wang Meng gazed at the Demon Race army outside the city. The coming days would likely decide the fate of the Star Alliance—or to be more precise, the fate of the Small Thousand Realm.

’I wonder how many of all these people will survive.’

In Snow Moon City, the Cultivators’ eyes shone, their spirits soaring like rainbows. They weren’t the least bit afraid of battle. Most of those with such a look in their eyes were newcomers.

That’s right. The main forces were in the three vanguard cities. Snow Moon City was mostly filled with new Cultivators who lacked extensive combat experience.

A battle-hardened Cultivator’s proper attitude when facing a fight was calmness.

The battle at the outpost where Zhao Lingxuan and the others were stationed had reached its most brutal stage. The power of the Array Technique was steadily weakening, and outside was a dense, endless sea of Demons.

Including Zhao Lingxuan, only six people were left holding out. It was obvious the Demons wanted to capture them alive, or they wouldn’t have waited this long.

"Senior Sister, you go first! With your Fire Simurgh, you can definitely break through!" Anx Dao roared, decapitating a Demon with a swing of his sword.

Zhao Lingxuan’s eyebrow twitched. "Anx Dao, what nonsense are you spouting? You want me to escape alone?"

Beside her, Eight Discount was still full of vigor, its entire body wreathed in flaming feathers. A single gout of flame could incinerate several Demons. The Eight Discount of today was no longer the little hatchling of the past. It had consumed a vast amount of nourishing treasures, and with the help of the Ruins Heaven Beast Sect, its Divine Beast bloodline had been awakened, making its combat power terrifyingly immense.

It was impossible for it to carry everyone away, but it was highly confident it could get Zhao Lingxuan out. However, Zhao Lingxuan refused.

Right now, Zhao Lingxuan was filled with immense self-blame. Her judgment this time had been wrong. Seeing the scale of the Demon horde, she should have decisively abandoned the fight and led everyone to retreat. But she had been greedy for merit. Although she had annihilated the first wave of Demons, the Demon Race used the opportunity to sever their Teleportation Array.

She had fallen into a trap.

This was the price of immaturity and inexperience. It was a price she could not bear. Watching her companions die one by one, how could she have the face to leave alone?

Now, she remembered Zhang Xiaojiang’s words, because she finally understood: death was not the most terrifying thing.

Her junior brothers and sisters were dying because of her.

"Senior Sister, where there’s life, there’s hope! One escaping is better than none! Avenge us in the future!" Youn Yuqing added. They could still hold on for a little while longer with the Array Technique, but it was almost completely worn down by the Demons. Once the array broke, no one would be able to leave even if they wanted to.

"Enough nonsense! We live and die together! Let’s fight the Demon Race to the death!" Zhao Lingxuan said, unable to bear her inner guilt.

With a bloodcurdling scream, another disciple was dragged out by the Demons and instantly torn to shreds.

The Demons’ eyes were all fixed on Zhao Lingxuan. They were clearly after her. Zhao Lingxuan knew that if she escaped, the others would undoubtedly die.

"Little Spirit, you are free. Help me give him a message... If there is a next life, I still want to be his... junior sister."

Zhao Lingxuan caressed the Nine Heavens Fire Simurgh’s feathers. The time had finally come to part with the companion who had been with her since she was young.

Zhao Lingxuan couldn’t overcome the hurdle in her heart. She chose death.

The Nine Heavens Fire Simurgh shook its head, flames erupting from its body and soaring into the sky. In an instant, a hellish inferno swept out, felling a swath of Demons, but the flames on the Nine Heavens Fire Simurgh’s body also weakened considerably.

It tugged at the corner of Zhao Lingxuan’s sleeve, trying to take her away.

"Senior Sister, go, quickly! We can hold them off!" Anx Dao roared.

Zhao Lingxuan’s mind went blank. She had always thought she was mature, but at this moment, she realized just how fragile and naive she was.

Principles were one thing, but as the sounds of battle returned to her, Zhao Lingxuan lifted her head high.

"Anx Dao, Youn Yuqing, and you two junior brothers whose names I don’t know—you don’t need to persuade me. We may not have been born on the same day of the same month in the same year, but to die with you all on the same day is my, Zhao Lingxuan’s, honor!"

Anx Dao and Youn Yuqing exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smile. "Then let’s kill them! Kill one and we break even, kill two and we’re ahead!"

The two disciples who had been fighting silently were not newcomers, but the original Cultivators stationed at this outpost. They were veterans. The two had been silent throughout the battle. Upon hearing her words, they simply smiled faintly without a word, but in that moment, they killed several more Demons.

Among the Demons, a massive chariot appeared. Chi Ying sat upon it, flanked in front by the two Demon Generals, Tu Xin and Tu Gu. The other members of the Demon Race bowed down as soon as they saw the pair.

If not for Chi Ying’s command, these few people would have been dead long ago.

Chi Ying smiled faintly. "So this woman is the current leader of the Holy Hall Disciples, Zhao Lingxuan?"

"Yes, Master. Your foresight is divine, Master. To think we’d catch such a big fish!"

Tu Xin and Tu Gu had limitless admiration for their master. To be able to deduce such important information from a few small clues was incredible.

Although it was unknown how the Star Alliance had predicted Chi Qing’s movements, Zhang Xiaojiang’s appearance here indicated one thing: there was someone important at this outpost. Otherwise, with so many outposts, he wouldn’t have come to this one in particular.

Furthermore, the Star Alliance was short-handed and often sent its reserve elites to outposts for training. This was clearly a "good" habit. Chi Qing wouldn’t have taken advantage of it, or would have simply ignored it, but for Chi Ying, it was a solid opportunity.

And with one cast, she had netted a big fish.

"Master, I will go and capture them!" Tu Xin said, his appetite clearly whetted.

Tu Xin enjoyed devouring the hearts of Cultivators. The stronger the Cultivator, the more flavorful the heart.

Chi Ying chuckled. "I want all of them alive. Tu Gu, you go."

"Yes, Master."

A shadow flickered. Zhao Lingxuan and the others were in the middle of fighting when the Demons suddenly fell back, and a sinister member of the Demon Race appeared before them.

"I am the great general Tu Gu, serving under the Shadow Demon King. Surrender without a fight, and you may yet keep your lives."

The moment Tu Gu appeared, a vast aura enveloped the entire area. The sky seemed to darken, and the Demonic Qi made all the surrounding Demons bow their heads.

Controlling Demons was an ability of the Demon Race. The higher their rank, the higher the level of Demons they could control, and the stronger their intimidating presence. The moment Tu Gu took the field, the hearts of Zhao Lingxuan and the others sank.

A Demon General was second only to a Demon King. Even a Great Perfection Cultivator would shrink back from such a foe.

Zhao Lingxuan stepped forward. "Zhao Lingxuan of the Holy Hall. In your dreams!"

With that, she lunged forward with her sword. Anx Dao and Youn Yuqing attacked from the left and right, and the other two Holy Hall Disciples followed close behind.

Five Minor Perfection experts attacking simultaneously was a considerable force, not to mention they also had a Nine Heavens Fire Simurgh.

Tu Gu laughed. Without any visible movement, he stomped his foot, and a purple-black Demon Array appeared. The five of them who charged into the Demon Array immediately fell, their Elemental Power being continuously devoured by the array.

Tu Gu shook his head. "Truly ignorant. Forget about small fry like you; even a Sect Leader from the Star Alliance would have no choice but to obey when they see me."

Anx Dao and the others couldn’t move. The Fire Simurgh at their side charged over, spitting a mouthful of flames straight at him.

Tu Gu casually flicked out a bone whip burning with black flames, swatting the Nine Heavens Fire Simurgh out of the air.

"A nice little thing. A pity it’s already half-dead from exhaustion, but it’s still worth refining."

Tu Gu stroked the Nine Heavens Fire Simurgh. Although the Fire Simurgh struggled desperately, it was powerless to resist.

The Demon Race had a method of conversion. They could turn humans into Half-Demons and Spirit Beasts into Demons. The higher the original level, the stronger they became after conversion.

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