At the same time that the demon envoy Suya, who had taken down the young master of the Nether Fiend, was captured by Wang Fugui, the battle situation at the Eastern Line Defense Area also began to change gradually.
It should be noted that this time, Chaoyang King and Ji Yue'er did not come alone. Accompanying them were reinforcements summoned by the Immortal Emperor, rushing from the Immortal Dynasty.
These reinforcements were primarily the Immortal Dynasty's reserves, volunteer troops sent by various clans, and regular troops returning to the Immortal Dynasty for rest after a rotation.
Although the combat effectiveness of this batch of reinforcements was uneven, their numbers were considerable. As they joined the battlefield one after another, the military resources that could be mobilized in the Eastern Line Defense Area greatly increased. With the addition of the two Lingxu Realm powerhouses, Chaoyang King and Ji Yue'er, the defensive pressure began to gradually decrease.
Some key figures also began to shine brightly.
For example, Wang Yingxuan, whose title as the "Goddess of War" was gradually spreading throughout the entire Immortal Dynasty base. She excelled at leading a regiment in large-scale maneuvers and flanking attacks, appearing wherever she was needed.
She was like an indefatigable war machine, traveling thousands of miles to strike at the weak points of the demon army.
Her presence, in a sense, even changed the course of the war. The demon coalition's originally meticulous formations were riddled with holes by her, forcing the demon army to constantly adjust their battlefield deployments, even allocating a portion of their forces specifically to guard against Wang Yingxuan's raids, to prevent her from finding any vulnerabilities.
This also meant that the demon army had to expend more effort and resources to achieve the same strategic goals, effectively weakening the demon coalition's strength.
In addition to Wang Yingxuan, another notable figure was the strange Divine Spirit Artifact shield that accompanied her.This shield was shaped like a zither, with a beautiful teardrop appearance and an incredibly fast flying speed.
Logically, as a shield, it should primarily focus on defense.
However, this shield, named [Liu Safety], defied expectations. It followed Wang Yingxuan around the battlefield, appearing wherever danger lurked.
Moreover, its combat style was extremely bizarre. After generating a thick energy shield, instead of defending, it would load the shield with Unstable Demon Crystals and Wang's Clan's explosive shells, charge directly into the enemy camp, drop everything, and then swiftly retreat, resembling a battlefield bomber.
When pursued by enemy experts, it would often excitedly cackle, "Thrilling!"
Compared to the cautious and careful Liu Safety of the past, its current personality had completely twisted and unleashed, seeking thrills on the edge of life and death.
It finally understood why its previous masters were so reckless—wasn't it all for the thrill?
This was the true essence of being a "shield."
What? Why do I run so fast? Haha, as a shield, isn't it only natural for me to run fast?
The current Liu Safety had completely forgotten that the reason it had developed such speed was because it often had to carry its reckless master to safety.
Besides Wang Yingxuan, another woman also rose to fame during this period.
She was Wang Ruobing, a young heroine reported by the Demon Dynasty.
As an auxiliary member of the Demon Dynasty's [Red Tiger Regiment], she repeatedly killed enemy generals in battle, earning significant advantages for the Red Tiger Regiment.
When the Red Tiger Regiment faced crises, she often led a small elite force to cover the retreat, bravely fighting the enemy. On one occasion, she even personally slew a prominent demon lord, intimidating the pursuing enemy forces.
This not only earned her great renown but also increased the admiration and respect of the soldiers in the Red Tiger Regiment for her.
Meanwhile, the old marshal "Chaoyang King," who personally arrived on the front lines, also demonstrated his "residual heat" on the battlefield.
However, this residual heat seemed a bit excessive.
Once, when facing a joint attack by three demon kings, everyone thought he would likely fall on the battlefield.
Unexpectedly, just as he was struggling, he suddenly pulled out an immortal sword, stealthily killing one demon king and severely injuring another. If not for the enemy reinforcements arriving quickly and the two demon kings fleeing swiftly, he might have achieved a triple kill.
Such a brilliant record instantly made Chaoyang King a hot topic, with his reputation soaring like the midday sun.
The only slight regret was that this tactic of exploiting information gaps could only be used once. Now that everyone knew he had an immortal sword, which demon king would dare to duel him alone?
However, this also had its benefits.
As Chaoyang King's achievements became widely known, wherever he appeared on the battlefield, the enemy demon kings would at least hide within heavy protection, not daring to venture out alone.
This provided the soldiers of the Eastern Line Defense Area with many opportunities to catch their breath and more room for maneuver.
At the same time.
The changes in the battle situation also affected the demon coalition.
At this moment.
In a temporary camp at the border between the territories of the Nether Fiend Demon God and the Yincha Demon God, an emergency meeting was being held.
In the simple meeting hall, thick Nether Fire candles burned, and rich incense mingled with pure demonic energy, filling the entire hall.
At both ends of the meeting table sat two demon gods exuding powerful auras.
On the left was the projection of the Yincha Demon God.
It still had that captivating appearance, exuding a seductive charm with every move. However, at this moment, its face was solemn, clearly in a bad mood.
On the other side sat the projection of the Nether Fiend Demon God. Its handsome face was also gloomy, emanating a somber aura.
Below them, a large group of demon kings were eagerly complaining about the recent battle situation.
These demon kings had various appearances, but apart from a few humanoid ones, most of them looked quite grotesque, resembling a scene from a legendary purgatory.
As the main attacking force, several demon kings had suffered heavy losses recently, and their expressions were not pleasant. The originally full seats now had an empty spot.
It was evident that a demon king had fallen.
The demon kings who had their territories raided, all under the Nether Fiend Demon God's domain, were grumbling, adding pressure on the Nether Fiend Demon God. Moreover, as time passed, the number of demon kings who had their homes raided was increasing. If left unchecked, the losses would only grow, eventually becoming unmanageable.
"Hmph!" The Yincha Demon God's beautiful face was filled with disdain. "Nether Fiend, you were the one who wanted to fight, and now you want to retreat. Do you think, in this situation, you can fight or retreat at will? Without my approval, let's see who dares to retreat!"
With that, the Yincha Demon God's projection began to fade, turning into points of light and gradually dissipating.
Clearly, she had no intention of continuing the discussion with the Nether Fiend Demon God and left in anger.
The demon kings, especially those under the Nether Fiend Demon God's command, exchanged glances, not daring to speak, and turned to look at the Nether Fiend Demon God's projection.
Despite feeling awkward, the Nether Fiend Demon God had to follow the Yincha Demon God's words, "Since we are a coalition, the Yincha Demon God's opinion is crucial. Since she refuses to retreat, we will continue fighting! Our reinforcements are already on the way. Once they arrive, we will turn the human Eastern Line Defense Area into a meat grinder!"
"Your concerns, all battle losses will be accounted for by me, and I will compensate everyone afterward. Anyone who disagrees is my enemy."
By the end, the Nether Fiend Demon God's tone had become murderous.
The demon god's pressure spread throughout the meeting hall, making the air feel oppressively heavy, almost suffocating.
"Yes, Your Majesty Nether Fiend."
Despite their reluctance, the demon kings straightened up and responded in unison.
Meanwhile, in the inner hall of the Yincha Demon God Hall.
Under the high dome, several ornate palace lamps hung, casting colorful halos that illuminated the hall in a dreamy and enchanting manner.
Within the light, scarlet veils hung down, dividing the hall into several relatively independent small spaces.
As the veils swayed, the light shimmered, creating a mesmerizing and beautiful scene.
This was the most private place in the entire Yincha Demon God Hall, the core of the hall. According to the Yincha Demon God's usual temperament, no male demons were allowed here.
Yet at this moment, there was a male demon present in this hall filled with a demonic feminine atmosphere.
He was strong and muscular, exuding boundless power.
If Wang Fugui were here, he would immediately recognize this male demon as none other than Yuntai An, transformed into the [Dragonblood Demon God].
At this moment, he had just finished a session of cultivation, the boiling dragon blood not yet fully settled, with waves of scorching demonic flames radiating outward.
If a demon or human cultivator with slightly lower strength approached at this time, they would likely be incinerated by the demonic flames.
"Dragonblood."
Suddenly, a captivating female voice echoed.
The next moment, the enchanting and seductive figure of the Yincha Demon God appeared in the hall like a ghost.
In the hazy light, her snow-white, smooth skin seemed to be coated with a layer of soft glow, making her appear even more alluring and captivating.
However, at this moment, she clearly had no intention of showcasing her charm.
Having just concluded an unpleasant meeting, the Yincha Demon God was in a foul mood. She coldly glanced at Yuntai An's robust body, her tone slightly displeased, "You've consumed twenty Demon God Crystals, yet you still haven't restored your demon god form. Isn't that a bit too incompetent?"
The chaotic war and the Nether Fiend's indecisiveness in retreating halfway through the battle left her deeply dissatisfied. At this rate, when would they be able to breach the Immortal No. 3 realm, invade the human world, and welcome back the Great Demon Lord?
Moreover, this Dragonblood was unreliable, having consumed vast resources without restoring its strength, making it truly useless.
"Yincha!" Yuntai An gazed at the Yincha Demon God with an "aggressive" look, a wicked smile on his grotesque face, "Why don't we cultivate together? Maybe I'll restore my strength in one go."
As he spoke, he licked his lips, portraying the lascivious and wanton nature of the [Dragonblood Demon God] vividly.
However, while doing so, Yuntai An internally lamented.
"Meow-meow, you must forgive me. This is all that brat Yao Chankang's idea. He said I need to exhibit the Dragonblood Demon God's true nature to avoid arousing the Yincha Demon God's suspicion.
I, Yuntai An, am sacrificing myself for the entire human race!"
"Bastard!" The Yincha Demon God instantly erupted in anger at his words, "You dare even think of my primal yin? My primal yin is reserved for the Great Demon Lord. Once the Great Demon Lord returns to the demon race, with my assistance, he can quickly restore his strength, allowing us to unify the demon realm and end the current chaos."
It was well-known that the bloodline of the Yincha Demon God's lineage was extremely rare, and its primal yin could aid other demons in rapidly increasing their strength. In ancient times, the demon gods of this lineage were always the Great Demon Lord's favored concubines, holding an extraordinary status among the demon race.
The Yincha Demon God was obsessed with welcoming back the Great Demon Lord, partly due to this connection.
After all, once the Great Demon Lord returned, she, as the primary contributor to his return, would naturally rise in status, becoming a prominent figure just below the Great Demon Lord.
Upon hearing the mention of the Great Demon Lord, Yuntai An appropriately displayed a "fearful" expression, his tone ingratiating, "Yes, yes, Yincha, you have a long-term vision."
"Humph!"
Seeing his compliance, the Yincha Demon God snorted coldly, refraining from further anger, and instead admonished, "Dragonblood, don't forget your mission. The Great Demon Lord's soul went through great lengths to create you as a vanguard."
"I also want to rescue Lord Xifeng as soon as possible," Yuntai An feigned "anxiety," "Just thinking of my lord's soul trapped in a spatial vortex makes me anxious and restless, wishing I could take his place. But my strength was severely depleted while trapped, and this demon body, transformed from a human, just can't break through at the moment. It feels like I'm just a bit short."
Undoubtedly.
This tactic was a devious one learned from Wang Fugui.
Previously, Wang Shouzhe had already informed Yao Chankang through [Wu Mingyan] about the Yincha Demon God's obsession with rescuing the Great Demon Lord. Before Yao Chankang ventured into the outer regions, Wang Shouzhe had provided him with all potentially useful information, including this.
Yao Chankang exploited this point, having Yuntai An, transformed into the [Dragonblood Demon God], claim to be a vanguard painstakingly sent by the Great Demon Lord, displaying unwavering loyalty to him.
The Yincha Demon God, in desperate need of allies, naturally yearned for the Dragonblood Demon God to restore its strength and assist her in welcoming back the Great Demon Lord.
Of course, the Yincha Demon God's suspicion of Yuntai An's words was also due to the fact that the Dragonblood Demon God was known for being the Great Demon Lord's vanguard warrior, renowned not only for its bravery but also for its recklessness and lack of wisdom, a typical case of brawn over brains.
According to incomplete demon records, the Dragonblood Demon God was indeed a trusted subordinate of the Great Demon Lord, at least on the surface.
Hearing Yuntai An's words, the Yincha Demon God's expression fluctuated several times.
"However, I've already given you all the Demon God Crystals I had, and I have no more in stock."
"Really?" Yuntai An feigned "shock," as if hearing something unbelievable, "You, the mighty Yincha Demon God, only had twenty Demon God Crystals? So poor?"
"Dragonblood, the current era is different from ancient times," the Yincha Demon God's beautiful face showed a hint of embarrassment and anger, "Resources today are far scarcer than in ancient times. I managed to gather twenty Demon God Crystals over the years, intending to offer them to the Great Demon Lord to restore his strength."
"Sorry, sorry, I didn't understand the situation. I know your loyalty to Lord Xifeng is unparalleled. Rest assured, I will commend your efforts to the Great Demon Lord," Yuntai An expressed admiration, "I believe the Great Demon Lord will be pleased to know of your dedication."
Pausing, Yuntai An's grotesque face showed regret, "It's my fault for being too clever, using so many resources yet failing to restore my strength."
Then, he looked at the Yincha Demon God with hopeful eyes, "You're a demon god, can't you borrow some?"
"Borrow? Who would lend Demon God Crystals?" The Yincha Demon God bit her lip, "If necessary, I'll sell some assets and exchange for more Demon God Crystals with other demon gods. Dragonblood, honestly, how many more do you need?"
"I feel like another twenty would suffice."
"What? Twenty?! Go to hell!"
"Fifteen, no less."
"Ten, I can exchange for ten more at most. If you still can't break through, I'll kill you myself."
"Alright, alright, ten it is. Yincha, hurry up, I fear the Great Demon Lord is waiting."
The Yincha Demon God shot a fierce glare at Yuntai An and turned to leave.
Watching her departing figure, Yuntai An felt a twinge of guilt.
In truth, twenty Demon God Crystals were more than enough to restore demon god strength. The current situation arose because he used half and saved the other half.
Even though they were on opposing sides, deceiving the Yincha Demon God like this made him feel a bit guilty.
Ah, compared to that brat Yao Chankang, the Yincha Demon God is too naive.
Even he thought Wang Fugui's schemes were shamelessly cunning and deviously clever, beyond what ordinary people could conceive.
But the scheme was indeed effective.
Fugui had said that as the Yincha Demon God's investment grew, as long as she saw hope, no matter how much she cursed or complained, appearing as if she wanted to kill him, she wouldn't give up.
This was the nature of all intelligent beings, and demon gods were no exception.
What was the professional term for this?
[Sunk Cost]?
Yes, [Sunk Cost].