"This is the Netherworld Flame Nightmare Beast. The Demon Lord once ventured into the forbidden zone to tame this beast and brought out a batch, which were then kept in the back mountains of the Ming Palace. This beast is violent, incredibly strong, and skilled in fire attacks. It was conscripted into the army and used as a mount. You will rely on it for your journey this time."
An explanation came from beside her. Lu Zhaozhao looked over and saw it was the guardian of the third level. After bowing briefly to him, Lu Zhaozhao turned her gaze back to the strange beast.
"The Netherworld Flame Nightmare Beast? What an imposing name!" she exclaimed, then flipped over and landed steadily on the beast.
The specially trained beast suppressed its inner rage and merely exhaled two puffs of black smoke at Lu Zhaozhao riding on its back to express its dissatisfaction, without engaging in any further aggressive behavior.
After she went up, the others followed suit. The ten winners of the contest rode their beasts at the front, followed by the forty defeated ones. Behind them was the fully equipped demon army, and at the very front was the palace guard.
As Lu Zhaozhao watched his retreating figure, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of cultivation he possessed and what abilities he had, being a trusted confidant of the Demon Lord who held an important position in the Ming Palace and was feared by the eight commanders.
She couldn't know the answer right now. She just watched as the armored palace guard raised his arm and shouted, and all the demon legions behind him echoed in unison. Then, a large army marched into the distance.
The Western Regions were considered a land of withered bones by humans. Lu Zhaozhao had not realized this before, but she had come to understand it as she traveled along the way.
An endless desert stretched out before them, a desolate expanse of yellow earth. They crossed a wide, dry riverbed, where at dusk, a large, decaying wooden boat lay abandoned. The pale yellow setting sun shone on its bow, and all around them lay withered bones, weathered by the wind and sand over the years, beyond recognition.
As night falls, a cold moon hangs high in the sky. The wind blows, and fine sand slides gently down. The natural wonders sculpted by nature seem like demons in the darkness, whispering and devouring passersby.
Such a journey is tedious and dangerous. Although the demon army will not be attacked within the territory, the dangers in the western border are never limited to living creatures, and the hidden dangers underground are even more terrifying.
Beneath the seemingly calm ground lie shifting sand pits. Once you stray into one, there is no escape; you can only wait in agony to be swallowed up, and one day, a hundred years later, you will become a unique decoration of this land, just like the other skeletons by the roadside.
The Western Frontier, inhabited by demons, truly lives up to its reputation.
Lu Zhaozhao felt apprehensive and silently followed the group forward.
After traveling for almost half a month, traversing most of the western border, they finally came to the border passes.
"Finally, I can rest for a bit," Nan Rongrui complained softly. "This journey has been exhausting."
She spoke for most people. This journey has been a devastating experience for their spirits.
When the army reached the pass, the palace guard raised his hand, signaling the troops to stop, and then sent the vanguard with a command token to call for the gate.
Time passed slowly, but the vanguard still hadn't returned, and the door showed no sign of opening.
Everyone realized something was wrong.
"Whoosh—" A cold arrow came flying, heading straight for the palace guard's face. He dodged it by turning his head, but a demon behind him was hit by the arrow. Suddenly, flames engulfed his body, and he was reduced to ashes in an instant.
"Enemy attack!"
The group was momentarily thrown into disarray, but the palace guards suppressed it. However, a single arrow was followed by a hail of arrows.
Instinctively, everyone gathered their spiritual power to form a barrier to block the cold arrows in front of them.
"ah!"
Screams rang out behind her. Lu Zhaozhao glanced quickly and saw that the cold arrows had pierced through the demonic barrier weakened by spiritual energy, killing many demons. Clusters of flames rose and fell within the formation.
"Retreat!"
The palace guard issued orders, and the troops acted accordingly, but soon came to a halt.
A demon soldier, his body charred black, rushed over, shouting in a panic, "There are enemies behind us too! We're surrounded!"
Upon hearing this, the army immediately panicked, with many voices mixed in.
"What is that thing? How can it be so terrifying?" Changyu Lanshan asked, looking at Huai Jiang, who was most skilled in hidden weapons.
“If it’s not from the Western Regions, then it must be from outside.” Huai Jiang’s face darkened.
Lu Zhaozhao swung the arrow that flew in front of her and, after hearing Huai Jiang's words, looked down at the broken arrow.
The arrows and wings do indeed look like human-like things, especially the spiritual energy attached to them, which is very different from the demons of the Western Realm and does not belong to the category of demons.
Humans have actually entered?
Lu Zhaozhao was puzzled, but the next second, her question was answered.
Figures appeared on the city wall of the pass, with the one in the center shouting to the demon army below: "We have been lying in ambush here for a long time, just to take your lives today! Prepare to die!"
The other demon soldiers in the group focused their attention on the human enemy attack, but Lu Zhaozhao immediately noticed the clothing worn by the person.
White with yellow patterns, hair tied in a yin-yang style, and talismans on his body, he is a member of the Kongshan Sect!
No wonder, Lu Zhaozhao thought, no wonder these cold arrows have this effect, because they are not real cold arrows, but are transformed from talismans, and they change upon close contact.
"Heh, so you're just a bunch of human Taoist priests. You've got quite the nerve," Qiehe sneered coldly.
At this moment, the army stabilized, and the palace guard raised his arm and gave a shout, guiding the army.
"Charge! Tear these people to shreds! The one who takes the lead will be promoted three ranks!"
The demons' bloodthirsty genes were stirring, and the heaven-shattering reward made all the demons present have bloodshot eyes. The humans in front of them were no longer enemies, but stepping stones to the next level!
"W-what's going on? Why have they suddenly become so fierce?" one of the Kongshan Sect members exclaimed, but was stopped by the leader: "Calm down! Attack with talismans. These demons are physically strong and cannot be attacked head-on. Quickly notify the people lying in ambush at other passes. They're trapped."
"yes!"
The Kongshan Sect rallied its forces once again, using the terrain to its advantage to launch a pincer attack. Talismans rained down from the sky, accompanied by a series of booming sounds.
Humans and demons alike went berserk, and the demons revealed their true forms.
The Di people blotted out the sky; in the shadows, the Guhuo bird began to sing, and the Luwu tiger's sharp claws plunged into the crowd, splattering blood everywhere. The Gu Diao's attack was too much for them to handle...
The human race began to falter, their previous advantage vanished, and they switched to a defensive posture, struggling to hold on.
"They're done for, hahaha, give it your all, everyone, let's charge in!" Changyu Lanshan roared to the sky. After his last battle with Guannan, his cultivation had broken through the blockage, and the power throughout his body made him feel exceptionally strong at this moment.
"Got it, shut up." Jie Yi continued, delivering a powerful blow that sent a large group of people flying.
Lu Zhaozhao was somewhat troubled at the moment. Of course, she could not kill humans. She was recalling the battle, but the war between humans and demons was too long ago and the records were already blurred. Moreover, such a scene, which may have been just a small battle at the time, was probably difficult to record.
"We can't hold on any longer, the Kongshan Sect."
Lu Zhaozhao uttered those words softly, and the city gates swung open the next moment.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com