Leave at dawn through the western gate,
Return by dusk with heads in hand.Exhausted, the soul craves sleep,Suddenly, the war drums thunder.The deafening war drums echoed endlessly across heaven and earth. The booming sounds of “boom boom boom” blended together.
It felt as if the drums would shatter the sky itself. The sound made ears throb with pain. Heaven and earth seemed to be boiling over.
Lan Juntian stood at the very front, wearing a fresh and flowing deep-blue robe.
Behind him were elder representatives from various factions, while Lan Clan disciples stood tall on both sides of the road.
The Demon-Suppressing Drums thundered loudly.
“My Lan Clan was founded in the Desolate Era and has survived countless ages since then. Our fight with the demons has never ceased. Today, we hold this Demon-Slaying Banquet to unite the people of the world, to purge demons and monsters, and to bring light and order back to this land.”
As Lan Juntian’s commanding voice rang out, the Lan Clan disciples on both sides stood tall and shouted together:
“Kill the demons! Kill the demons! Kill the demons!”
…………
“The Demon-Slaying Banquet begins!” Lan Juntian pointed to the sky and roared.
In the next moment, the thick mist in the sky was dispelled, revealing a clean, cloudless sky.
A golden formation slowly appeared in the air, shining with brilliant, sacred light.
Ten golden chains pierced the depths of the void and bound a terrifying creature in mid-air.
This creature radiated overwhelming baleful energy. The sheer pressure of it felt like it could rip the sky apart as it surged and churned within the formation.
Bone-chilling, beastly roars echoed through the skies, sending shivers down everyone’s spine.
It was like the roar of an ancient demon god, filled with terrifying power and authority.
“So… that’s an Ancient Demon?” someone whispered.
“That thing… it could probably wipe out an imperial lineage like it was nothing.”
“I didn’t expect the Lan Clan to be this strong, to actually trap such a monster.”
“Say what you will, the Ancient Demon Race shouldn’t be underestimated. If anything happens in the future, we should help when we can.”
As the formation took shape in the sky, ten figures appeared, sitting cross-legged in the air around the formation.
These ten were the seven ancestors of the Lan Clan, Invincible Jiang of the Invincible Domain, and the two sword elders of Beyond Heaven Sword Mountain, Sword Demon Dugu Wenchang and Ancestor Absolute Sword.
The pressure around these ten was overwhelming, with waves of immortal energy rising around them.
They stabilized the sky and fed into the formation.
“Greetings to the ancestors!” Lan Juntian shouted.
He knelt first, followed by all the Lan Clan disciples.
Even though the other sects didn’t see their own ancestors here, they still bowed respectfully to show honor to the seniors.
“Thank you all for attending our Lan Clan’s Demon-Slaying Banquet,” said Lan Jiulin as he stood and smiled at the crowd.
“I’ll speak plainly about the purpose of this gathering: We hope to unite forces across the regions and form a Demon-Slaying Alliance to cleanse the entire Primordial Heartlands of demonic influence. The goal is to eliminate the demon threat before fate fully takes form in this age.”
“Ancestor Jiulin, we can't decide this ourselves, but we’ll report your proposal to our sects,” an elder from an imperial lineage replied.
“No rush,” Lan Jiulin smiled. “I just wanted to use this event to express our intentions. That’s enough for now. Here in Skyluan Region, our forces have joined with Invincible Domain and Beyond Heaven Sword Mountain. If anyone else is interested, you’re welcome to join us. Together, we’ll plan how to purge the demons.”
“Senior Jiulin keeps talking about demon extermination. I have a few questions,” a cold voice interrupted.
A figure suddenly soared into the sky, his aura blazing, standing opposite Lan Jiulin.
It was Xu Zimo. He wore a purple robe, his expression calm yet piercing, eyes fixed on Lan Jiulin.
“Please, go ahead,” Lan Jiulin said with a smile.
“What kind of demon are you trying to kill? And what kind of so-called ‘peaceful world’ are you trying to restore?” Xu Zimo asked loudly. “Did the demon kill your whole family? Did it wipe out your clan? Please clarify!”
“Watch your tone!” a Lan Clan elder shouted. “Who are you to speak like this in our Lan Clan’s territory?”
“It’s fine,” Lan Jiulin waved his hand, still smiling at Xu Zimo.
He replied, “Since our ancestors, the Lan Clan has passed down a prophecy. One day, the Demon Sovereign will descend and bring destruction to the world, leading countless demons. What we do isn’t for ourselves, it’s for the sake of this world.”
“So your ancestor said demons would destroy the world, and that automatically makes it true? Why should we all believe your ancestor’s prophecy?” Xu Zimo asked.
“The Primordial Heartlands has seen three great eras. From the Legendary Era to the Desolate Era to today’s Imperial Era, in all that time, which great conflict was truly caused by demons?”
“The day of the demons' return hasn’t come yet,” Lan Jiulin said. “When the seal on the Primordial Demon Cave breaks, you’ll understand why our family is committed to this path.”
“No proof. Just a prophecy. And now you want to rally the entire continent to fight demons. Don’t you think that’s ridiculous?” Xu Zimo replied coldly.
“By that logic, what if my ancestor prophesied that your Lan Clan is the real threat to the world? And that wiping out your clan is the only way to bring peace?”
Lan Jiulin shook his head slightly. “The Lan Clan doesn’t need to prove anything. Those who understand will, in time, understand.”
“I don’t understand, and I don’t want to,” Xu Zimo replied calmly.
“You want to hold this ridiculous Demon-Slaying Banquet? Then let me be the demon. I’m standing right here, go ahead and try to execute me.”
As his voice fell, a wave of divine pressure erupted from Xu Zimo.
Blade energy surged into the sky like a rising tide.
In that moment, he unleashed the Hell-Suppressing Demon Physique.
His skin turned a blood-black color. Thick, rolling demonic energy surrounded him.
Dark purple markings, like ancient curses, spread down from his forehead.
His eyes turned blood-red, filled with endless demonic force.
Cold, emotionless, detached, he looked like a man without a soul.
The once clear and empty sky turned dark. Thick storm clouds gathered and churned. Thunder rumbled with flashes of lightning.
A massive, chaotic figure emerged from the void and stood silently at Xu Zimo’s side.
Step by step, Xu Zimo walked toward Paimon, his Infernal Archon imprisoned in the formation.