Array activated

As the fangs pierced his neck, Yun Shu clearly sensed something cold and viscous coursing through his veins, attempting to erode his will and assimilate his power. The excruciating pain of his limbs being pierced by the black sand spikes only made his consciousness clearer and more lucid.

He merely lowered his gaze to the false god who was burying his head in his neck, his crystal eyes devoid of sorrow or joy, only filled with the tranquility accumulated over millennia.

“Li,” he began, his voice slightly hoarse from the pressure on his neck, yet still steady, “can devouring… fill your emptiness?”

The false god paused in his movements.

He chuckled softly, tilting his head back, his index finger rubbing between Yun Shu's lips. His empty eye sockets "stared" at the delicacy, his soft, seductive voice languid: "My dearest White Fox Immortal, are you pitying me?"

“That’s not the case.” Yun Shu looked up at the dome, her heart still pounding rapidly. “I think Li doesn’t need my pity, and I’m not worthy to pity you on behalf of the thousands of sufferers.”

"Ah... I understand."

A thin line of blood appeared on her cold knuckles. Li drank it down as if it were fine wine, then bent down and pressed her lips against the fox demon's heart.

At the pierced joint, a considerable amount of black sand had already seeped into the blood vessels, and perhaps within twelve hours, it would drain this near-immortal, who was about to undergo tribulation, dry. He greedily inhaled this sweetness and, with great compassion, told Yun Shu what she wanted to know.

“That little thing that follows you,” He pressed on the fox spirit’s heart, “has already been put to my use.”

really.

Yun Shu's gaze darkened, and the demonic power within her surged uncontrollably, which ironically made it easier for Li to eat.

"Immortal Lord, I'm quite worried about it." The false god smiled and whispered in his ear, "That... newly ascended demon god's desires are so pure and sweet, they're simply irresistible... It's just a pity that one heart is still too small..."

At this point, He gently stroked Yun Shu's face in a comforting manner: "But fortunately, I have even more delicious delicacies to savor... Don't be sad, Immortal Lord. Your taste is a hundred times better than it. Besides, you still have me, don't you? Once I swallow you, you and the Demon Lord... oh, and that bird, will be reunited."

How noisy... Once it was clear that the little black coal ball had been eaten by Li, Yun Shu had no more hesitation or worries.

The banquet had reached its climax; what reason could he possibly have to withdraw?

In an instant, the remaining demonic power flowed into Yun Shu's meridians, along with the immortal energy he had cultivated over ten thousand years, feeding the insatiable false god and irrigating an oasis in the vast desert, forcing the black sand to retreat and death to stay away.

Under the watchful eye of the false god, he detonates the drop of golden blood hidden in the heart of the demon god. With the blood of the Sand Princess, he will once again awaken the long-dormant remnant of the Sand.

A long spear pierced through the clouds and shattered the earth, forcefully breaking open the sealed place and forcing back the false god. Yunhua had already retrieved her former magical artifacts and close friends, dressed in pure white robes, untouched by worldly dust.

To free his beloved disciple from her confinement, he stood protectively before Yun Shu, saying, "Master is late. Qiuqiu, please don't tell Xiaohe."

...

Outside the gate of a thousand hands, the blonde girl held hands and embraced her people, whom she had never met before, for the third time.

“Although I’ve never spent time with you and don’t know what you like…” she said softly, holding a hand on the door, “I think there might be clues in the songs my mother sang.”

The cliffs on both sides of the rift trembled, and the pitch-black, asphalt-like monster crawled towards them once more. Seeing this apocalyptic scene and hearing the wails from within the doorway, Jinzhu bit her lower lip and, together with Mingshe and the Faceless One, hid inside the wall formed by a thousand arms, raising what might not have been a particularly sharp weapon.

"I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid..." the girl whispered to herself, trying to comfort herself. Her mother's eyes were fixed on her, the teachings she had received on Mount Yunhua accompanied her, the magical artifact left behind by the White Fox Immortal Lord protected her, and the surviving people and guardian deities encouraged her... So what was there to be afraid of?

The monster had transformed into a human form and was slowly approaching her. Jinzhu swallowed her fear, blood flowing from her unconsciously pinched palm.

“My mother said that if you encounter an unfamiliar guy in the desert, you should hit him on the back of the neck… and smash him to pieces.” The serpent obediently carried its master, its four wings spreading wildly to their maximum size. “And my master always told me that when facing a powerful enemy… the most important thing is not to show weakness.”

Two clear tears streamed down the princess's emerald eyes, mingling with her blood to awaken the subjects who had waited here for millennia. Countless faceless humans emerged from the gates, surrounding their last empress.

"Today, the false god has returned to the world! People of the Land of Quicksand, follow me, let us march!"

The eleven-year-old princess took on her responsibilities, inheriting the memories and struggles of past empresses from her subjects. Leading an army truly belonging to the desert, accompanied by ragged priests, she charged into battle against the enemy.

...

Those who bear the weight of mountains and rivers with mortal bodies, gazing alone at the rolling thunder in the distance from within a luxurious cage.

The young crown prince knelt before the emperor, begging his father to allow him to personally go to the northwest to defend against the approaching shadows. The deputy commander of the imperial guards and the secret guards remained hidden, awaiting the imperial decree.

As the snowflakes fell from Yunhua Immortal Mountain, the white-haired Emperor solemnly turned around and said, "Granted."

"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

The Crown Prince led the officials to withdraw, but Ling Zhao stepped forward and, despite his illness, remained silent with the Emperor.

"Ling Zhao," Murong Jin called out in a deep voice, kissing the snowflakes on his fingertips.

"Your humble servant is here." The deputy commander of the Imperial Guards bowed respectfully.

"In your eyes, am I a wise ruler? And can the world I rule be called a golden age?"

"Your humble servant is foolish and dares not offer any unsolicited opinion."

"Please feel free to speak."

"In my humble opinion, Your Majesty's reign has been unprecedented in its prosperity. During the thousand years of Your Majesty's reign, the people have no worries about food and clothing, your ministers dare to speak frankly in court, and Your Majesty has expanded the territory, making it impossible for anyone to invade... In my humble opinion, Your Majesty is worthy of the title of a wise ruler throughout the ages."

"Is that so... then that's good." The emperor covered his face and laughed, completely unaware that the bloody taste in his mouth was growing stronger. He only looked towards the immortal mountain and walked slowly into the underground palace: "Come, witness the most between me and the fox spirit. At least, there will be someone to accompany me on this final journey."

The human emperor, who had ruled the world for a thousand years, was nearing the end of his reign, but fortunately, he could still contribute his last strength to his beloved, whom he could not have.

...

On the celestial mountain where snow fell unusually, a healer in a green robe stood quietly by the spiritual spring, while a girl in pink brought news.

"Immortal Venerable, heavenly lightning is approaching." Wu Ying walked behind the Immortal Healer, presented the remnants of Ice Soul Jade Marrow, and melted them into the core of the formation.

All the Yunhua disciples with decent cultivation levels had long since dispersed throughout the Three Realms to protect the people in various places. Therefore, this vast immortal mountain was left to be cared for by only the two of them.

An ominous voice has been heard from the depths of the earth—the corpse of the man in black robes marked the secluded immortal mountain, and now, the greedy one will crawl over to feast on it, drawn by the scent of the mark.

“It is said that when someone ascends to immortality, there will be strange phenomena and disasters.” Yun He’s voice was as clear as a spring. He turned around and took Wu Ying’s hand, and sighed, “When Master became an immortal, evil spirits first appeared; when the Mountain Lord became an immortal, there was a snow disaster in the northern border; when I became an immortal, the demon gods were in turmoil… But Qiuqiu, the commotion you’re making to become an immortal is a bit too much.”

No wonder that fox ball would rather stop cultivating for ten thousand years than take another step faster on the path to immortality.

So be it, what does it matter if he becomes an immortal or not? If it weren't for that false god forcing him... even if this fox ball could never become a true "fox immortal," they wouldn't let anyone bully him.

Seeing the soil crack out of the corner of his eye, Yunhe waved his hand, summoning his natal magic weapon, and said to his companions:

"Wu Ying, it's time for us to activate our formation."

...

In the desolate far north, beneath the ice, a mountain god gently scratches a cat's ear.

The twin snow demons hovered around the coral mother plant, their extreme cold breath enough to tear apart the sand scourge that was eyeing that soul.

"Alright, alright... little sister, be good." Mountain Lord escorted the cat into Snow Demon's protective range, grumbling with concern, "Brother has to leave for a little while and won't be able to play with you. Why don't you stay here and play with that big tree branch for a bit?"

The cat, not understanding what was going on, ignored the precious coral cat tree and meowed, wanting only to rush back into the other's warm embrace.

"You can't come along," the Mountain Lord patiently advised, leaving a wisp of his magical power to protect him. "Our little fox ball brother is in trouble, and his older brother has to go and help him... Even though you don't remember him, I think you still remember the toys at home, right?"

Perhaps it really remembered the toys that were sent from afar every year, because the cat actually quieted down, obediently wagged its tail at its brother, and lightly jumped onto the top of the snowman's head, looking down at the ugly sand with disdain.

"Yes. Be a good girl, little sister. When your brother comes back to pick you up, he will bring your favorite spicy lamb head."

Then, the Mountain Lord walked into the area surrounded by the Dragon Bone Lamp, and a surge of powerful immortal energy spread from his palm.

...

In the heart of the Western Regions, at the mouth of an active volcano.

An unnamed man caught the eagle and unfolded the secret letter.

"Master, the time has come."

Canglang's reply.

In an instant, the letter was burned to ashes by the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. The nameless one—the leader of the Red Lotus Cult—was given a command, and the elders and elites immediately drew their swords and plunged them into the ground, revealing the array patterns clearly.

“What a dereliction of duty, to allow such a malignant tumor to take root in the Western Regions…” The leader stared at the lava in a deep voice, then drew his sword and plunged it into the magma. “Fortunately, I still have a chance to make amends.”

Let us draw our swords for our fallen compatriots, to comfort their immortal souls.

...

The realm where demons slumber, a place of constant conflict since ancient times, is unusually peaceful under the oppressive power of the newly born demon.

In a sudden moment, Mo Yiheng raised his head, his demonic eyes piercing through thousands of miles, gazing at the Western Regions shrouded in dark clouds.

It's Master... Master has already succeeded in the initial stages.

He slammed his fist on the table, the pain of having his heart chewed up and swallowed was nothing to him: "Night Asura, Jade Guanyin."

"Your subordinate is here."

"Proceed according to plan, commence operations immediately!"

"yes!"

Upon receiving the decree, Ye Xiuluo swiftly merged into the shadows, and the demonic energy of the Demon Realm circulated and converged rhythmically. Yu Guanyin sat cross-legged, her hands forming a mudra, and blood-red patterns appeared on her pale face as she used herself as a medium to communicate with the power of the distant Yunhua Mountain.

The Demon Lord himself took a step forward, standing firmly in the sky above the Demon Realm, arms outstretched. His vast demonic power poured forth without reservation, no longer for destruction, but to connect all sides and send messages to the Netherworld.

Senior Sister Daiyue, we're just missing you guys.