Old friend

The situation in the war between immortals and demons began to reverse after Immortal Lord Jiu Che personally intervened.

His cold and ruthless tactical command precisely exploited the weaknesses of each demon's attack, and his terrifying strength, enhanced by the Ruthless Dao, made him invincible on the battlefield. Under the Frost Condensation Sword, demon generals fell like rain, the demon offensive was thwarted, and they retreated step by step.

Standing atop the Demon Palace, Qi Yuan surveyed the ever-shrinking battle lines, the Demon Clan's defeat seemingly irreversible. Her face was expressionless, only her eyes held a complex and unfathomable undercurrent. She saw that snow-white figure, on the battlefield like the coldest killing machine, efficiently reaping the lives of her people.

After a century, he has indeed made rapid "progress".

"Your Majesty! The front lines... cannot hold out any longer! Please move your residence immediately!" The Shadow Demon, covered in blood, rushed in to report.

Qi Yuan remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger: "Order the entire army to retreat, break into smaller units, and return to the Demon Abyss."

"Then, Your Excellency..."

"I have my own plans." Her tone was indifferent, yet carried an undeniable authority.

Shadow Demon dared not say another word and left to carry out his orders.

As the demon army retreated like a tide, the immortals, with overwhelming momentum, stormed into the heart of the demon realm, their forces aimed directly at the Wanmo Palace, the symbol of the demons' power.

The area around the Demon Palace was shrouded in eerie demonic energy, where the remaining formations and the stubbornly resisting demon guards continued their desperate stand. The celestial generals were discussing how to breach this final stronghold with minimal losses.

"No need for that."

Immortal Lord Jiuche spoke calmly, interrupting the discussion. He gazed at the majestic yet desolate demon palace, and in the depths of his icy eyes, a subtle ripple, imperceptible even to himself, seemed to flash by.

"I can go alone."

"Immortal Lord! No! There must be a trap inside the Demon Palace! The Demon Lord is full of cunning schemes..." The trusted immortal servants and generals were shocked and hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"It's alright." Jiu Che's tone remained calm, yet it carried an absolute confidence. "Even if there are countless traps, they are all illusions before my ruthless path."

Without another word, he transformed into a pure beam of celestial light, ignoring the scattered resistance on the periphery, and like a sharp sword, shot straight into the wide-open main gate of the demon palace, which resembled the mouth of a giant beast.

Inside the Demon Palace, the space was empty and deathly silent. The once prostrate demons had long since vanished, leaving only flickering, dark demonic flames that danced on the walls, illuminating the grotesque reliefs. The air was thick with demonic energy and a faint, almost imperceptible, cool fragrance.

Jiu Che walked steadily on the cold, black magic jade slabs, his footsteps echoing in the empty hall. The Frost Condensation Sword hung at his side, emitting a chilling glint. His divine sense, like an invisible net, swept through every corner, yet he found no hidden forces.

This is very unusual.

He headed straight for the deepest part of the Temple of Ten Thousand Demons.

The palace gates, towering dozens of feet high, opened silently as if welcoming an old friend.

The scene inside the hall was reflected in his icy eyes.

It was completely different from what he had expected—a situation filled with serious preparations and numerous traps.

In the vast, boundless hall, only in the deepest part, upon the mystical crystal throne formed from countless vengeful spirits, sat a figure.

The black and red robes of the Demon Lord trailed on the ground like blooming blood-red datura. Qi Yuan rested his chin on one hand, leaning lazily against the armrest of the throne, while a wisp of dark purple demonic fire quietly danced at the fingertips of his other hand.

She wasn't wearing the demon crown; her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her face appear even more aged and delicate. She seemed to have waited a long time, yet also as if she had just woken from a nap.

Hearing footsteps, she slowly raised her eyes and looked at the snow-white figure walking in against the light from outside the palace, a figure that stood out starkly against the darkness surrounding her.

There was no murderous intent, no anger, no vast army.

She was all alone.

And, just him alone.

Their eyes met.

Spanning a century, traversing battlefields strewn with corpses and seas of blood, and discarding all conspiracies and schemes.

In the deepest, deserted depths of this demonic palace, only the most essential essence remains—

He, and she.

Qi Yuan looked into his cold, emotionless eyes, her red lips curving into a subtle, enigmatic smile. Her voice, tinged with a lazy huskiness, rang out clearly in the deathly silent hall:

"You've arrived."

"I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Nine-Che Immortal Lord".