Xu Yi collapsed backward again, the knot in her heart loosening considerably. She began to wander in thought.
It wasn't surprising that she felt an itch to fight every time she encountered a demon. It was likely a conviction etched into her very bones.
Hong Jing and the second elder had sought her out precisely for the matter of demon extermination.
Both of them firmly believed she would be the one to eradicate the demons again in the future.
Therefore, in the name of the Myriad Buddha Sect, they expressed their determination and trust in her, stating that the Myriad Buddha Sect would not shirk any help she might need.
Xu Yi was touched, but also felt immense pressure.
However, upon recalling the chaotic stone array she had left in the barrier, she couldn't help but feel secretly fortunate.
Because of this contingency plan she had put in place, the demons would take at least another two hundred years to break through the barrier, thus buying more time for her and for the Nine Provinces Continent.
Two hundred years was enough time for her to accomplish many things.
Putting the demon situation aside for the moment, Xu Yi began to speculate about Liu Jinghong's origins.
Liu Jinghong had appeared suddenly in this life. What was her true background?
Could she be an outsider?
Xu Yi had heard a legend before about other regions existing besides the Nine Provinces Continent.
However, these were merely rumors, with no concrete evidence ever presented.
Even if Liu Jinghong were an outsider, why did she know about her opportunities as if she had personally experienced them?
Xu Yi frowned, pondered for a long time, but came to no conclusion. She decided to put it out of her mind.
Since Liu Jinghong had already ascended, she wouldn't encounter her for the time being. The most important thing now was to improve her own strength.
Two hundred years was neither long nor short, and she couldn't afford to be too lax.
With this thought, a sense of urgency filled Xu Yi. She no longer felt like lounging around and began to call her companions through the communication disk.
In less than the time it takes for a cup of tea to steep, all five of her companions, with the exception of Hong Jing, arrived at the meditation room where Xu Yi was.
Seeing Xu Yi awake, they were all very happy.
Xu Yi got straight to the point, informing them that the demons would break through the barrier and invade the Nine Provinces Continent in two hundred years.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang furrowed his brow. "Can another array disk be set up and placed within the barrier to trap the demons for a longer period?"
This would give them more time to prepare.
Xu Yi shook her head. "If Teacher Yuwen from Kunlun Academy were to help, perhaps the time could be extended by several decades, but not much longer. That array disk has special properties; only chaotic stones can achieve it."
Everyone fell silent.
Chaotic stones were top-tier artifact refining materials that existed only in legends. Even Yu Xiaoyu from the Great Artifact Sect had never seen such an item, which spoke to its rarity.
"So we can't pin our hopes on delaying the demons; we need to improve our own strength."
"Yes! When we return to Kunlun Academy, I will definitely earn more merit points and strive for more training time in the Time Realm."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's words reminded Xu Yi.
That's right, the Dean had promised her a condition back then. She could request to cultivate in the Time Realm, which would give her several times the amount of time.
Xu Yi's eyes lit up, and she praised Xiong Zhuangzhuang profusely.
"Hmph." Bai Shan let out a snarky snort, thinking to himself, *What a sycophant.*
However, he didn't realize that the sound he made immediately drew Xu Yi's attention to him.
"Bai Shan! How could I have forgotten you!" Xu Yi looked at Bai Shan with an intense gaze.
If they could form an alliance with the demon race, wouldn't it be much easier?
"Xu Yi, don't look at me like that."
Bai Shan was creeped out by Xu Yi's gaze, a sense of foreboding rising inexplicably in his heart.
"Bai Shan, there's an opportunity here to atone for your past mistakes. Are you willing to seize this chance?" Xu Yi asked with a smile.
Bai Shan stammered, "Wh-what chance?"
"You've been with us for so long, and you've witnessed the brutality of the demons in Pillar Continent. Why don't you return to Divine Continent and persuade the demon race to ally with us, or perhaps simply remain neutral and not side with the demons."
As Xu Yi finished speaking, a flicker of brilliance immediately appeared in the eyes of the others.
If the demon race and the demon race allied, the pressure faced by the cultivators of the Nine Provinces Continent would skyrocket.
If the demon race were removed, leaving only the demons, the difficulty would be significantly reduced.
Bai Shan's eyes widened upon hearing this. "Xu Yi, don't think of me as the Demon King. I don't have that much power to command the entire demon race."
"Didn't you say that only half of the demon race agreed to ally with the demons? Then go and win over that half of the demon race."
Xu Yi's tone was entirely righteous.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang nodded in agreement. "That's right, Bai Shan. If you can accomplish this, it will be a great deed."
Yu Xiaoyu said gently, "Bai Shan, you wouldn't want to see a war between humans and demons, would you?"
Bei Xinghan said coldly, "A few days ago, I saved you from the Demon Lord."
Ji Buwang said nothing, merely sweeping Bai Shan with a cold glance.
Bai Shan immediately felt the metaphorical bloodshed behind that glance.
He silently clenched his fists, thinking, *Damn it, they're threatening me with force again.*
A moment later, he slowly loosened his fists, thinking mournfully, *But I just fall for it.*
"I... I can't do it alone, unless... unless you help me."
Xu Yi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? How do you want us to help you?"
"Two of you should come back to the demon race with me. I'll find a way to introduce you to the Demon King. If you can persuade the Demon King, then the alliance between the demon and demon races will no longer be an issue." Bai Shan said, puffing out his chest.
"See the Demon King?"
Everyone exchanged glances. They hadn't expected Bai Shan to make such a suggestion.
"Don't worry, I have some connections with the Demon King. I'll see you out of Divine Continent the same way I helped you get in," Bai Shan guaranteed, patting his chest.
However, his guarantee wasn't enough to convince everyone.
After all, Bai Shan's strength wasn't top-tier in Divine Continent. If a powerful demon wanted to assassinate them, Bai Shan's strength would be insufficient to stop it.
"Alright, then I'll go with you," Xu Yi suddenly said.
"Xu Yi!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and the others all showed expressions of disapproval.
Ji Buwang's thin lips curled slightly, and he said calmly, "I will accompany you."
Bai Shan: !
He wondered if it was too late to add that anyone other than Lu Zaiye could go.
Seeing that Ji Buwang was also going, their opposition was no longer as strong.
They had all witnessed Ji Buwang in action and knew that his true strength far surpassed theirs, so they felt more at ease with him.
Xu Yi also strongly agreed with Lu Zaiye going along. Since both of them were from Xuanji Sect, it would be a legitimate reason.
After discussions, they finally decided that Bei Xinghan, Xiong Zhuangzhuang, Yu Xiaoyu, and Hong Jing would return to Kunlun Academy to cultivate.
As for Xu Yi, Ji Buwang, and Bai Shan, they would travel together to the demon race's stronghold, Divine Continent.
A day later, they parted ways, each heading towards their respective destinations.