The Lord of Void and Real-Chapter 1681 - 1677 Assault by the Enemy

"The situation is likely more complicated than it appears on the surface. I suspect the shadow of the Demon Clan lineage of Chiyou is behind this..." Shen Luo continued via voice transmission.

Hearing Shen Luo’s words, Lu Huaming recalled the reminders from the National Master and his Master Cheng Yaojin before they set out, hesitation surfacing on his face.

A moment later, he raised his hand slightly, signaling everyone to quiet down.

Once the voices in the central command tent subsided, he turned to Shen Luo and said:

"We can suspend the attack for now, but you must not risk entering the Kingdom of Qingqiu to prove their innocence. They must provide proof themselves and offer everyone an explanation."

As soon as these words were spoken, objections erupted within the tent.

"Lu Daoist, while this campaign against the Kingdom of Qingqiu is spearheaded by your Great Tang Dynasty Government, if you issue reckless commands, we cannot promise compliance," Seven Kills frowned and said coldly.

"The Qingqiu Fox Clan has never shown any remorse. If they truly wished to avoid war, they would prove their innocence themselves. Brother Shen, I fear your efforts will be in vain," Jiang Shentian sighed and said. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Unacceptable. We’re currently forcing them into a corner with great momentum. How can we stop now? Stopping now would only give them a chance to recover and organize a counterattack against us," Elder Lu firmly objected.

Just as everyone was embroiled in debate, a rumbling noise suddenly sounded from outside the tent.

The expressions of Shen Luo and the others changed instantly. They rushed out of the tent, only to see that the previously dim sky was now dyed crimson. Hundreds, even thousands, of fiery-red fireballs, resembling a volcanic eruption, came shooting toward them from the direction of the valley.

A rain of fire poured down over the sky, the scene magnificent and overwhelming.

"Enemy attack!" Lu Huaming shouted sharply.

As his voice fell, the rain of fire descended heavily. Enormous fireballs exploded on impact, scattering debris everywhere. In an instant, the entire encampment turned into a sea of flames.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

A series of deafening explosions reverberated as shards of fiery rock burst apart midair like countless flying daggers, riddling the surrounding structures with holes and destruction.

The monks, only just reacting, hastily activated their protective magical treasures, lighting up their defensive treasure glows. Yet even so, anguished screams could still be heard from every corner, plunging the camp into utter chaos.

Lu Huaming leapt out first, his hand sweeping forward to unleash hundreds of streams of sword light, shattering the incoming fiery projectiles into dust. The other monks promptly joined in, quickly stabilizing the situation.

The fiery rain persisted for several dozen breaths before gradually dwindling to nothing.

Everyone stared at the devastated camp, with flames and smoke rising all around, their faces all turning ashen.

Just moments ago, they had been deliberating whether to grant the Qingqiu Fox Clan a chance. Who could have expected the Fox Clan to deliver such a resounding slap across their faces in response?

Even Shen Luo felt a nameless fury rising within him.

He could not fathom where the Qingqiu Fox Clan found the audacity to defy so many sects. Not even major sects like Mount Fangcun or Mount Putuo would dare take such a stance, would they?

"Daoist Shen, as you can see, it’s not that we are unwilling to give them a chance; it’s that they clearly do not desire such a chance. Since that’s the case, we have no choice but to completely crush their Mountain Gate and their pride—either they admit their wrongdoing and submit, or they face total annihilation," Seven Kills said with a grim smile.

With that, he turned resolutely and began striding toward the valley.

"Brother Shen, it seems you’ve truly been deceived by them. When dealing with demons, one cannot afford compassion like a Bodhisattva’s. To vanquish evil requires the wrath of a Vajra," Bai Xiaotian added.

"Brother Lu..."

"Brother Shen, there’s no room left for compromise," Shen Luo was interrupted by Lu Huaming just as he began to speak.

Jiang Shentian shook his head and said slowly, "If there is to be peace, it must come after we’ve fought and subdued them. Otherwise, there’s no way to justify it to everyone else."

Indeed, at this point, seeking a peaceful resolution was no longer viable.

Shen Luo gazed in the valley’s direction and saw Seven Kills’ figure soaring into the sky.

Seven Kills raised his hand high. In his palm, a flash of black light revealed a small black seal the size of a palm. The seal bore no coiled dragon, no tiger motif, nor any other ferocious beast, but instead the sculpture of a curved-horned Qing Niu.

The bull pressed its four hooves tightly to the ground, its head lowered, with its two curved horns meeting at their sharp edges. Its round eyes glared ahead with concentrated ferocity, its muscles meticulously chiseled, exuding raw and primal power.

As Seven Kills lifted the seal higher, the small black seal began ascending into the sky until it pierced through the clouds and disappeared from view.

Moments later, muffled thunder began to rumble from the depths of the clouds. High above, fierce winds surged as countless clouds started converging over their position. The skydome appeared veiled by a thick black quilt.

Shen Luo looked up and through the dark clouds. He vaguely discerned a shadowy image of an ox-headed, humanoid demon looming above the celestial mist. Its figure bore a noticeable resemblance to the Bull Demon King.

However, while it towered over a hundred feet high and radiated a vast and imposing aura, it ultimately fell short of rivaling the true might of the Bull Demon King.

"Is this the inheritance of Daoist Seven Kills?" Shen Luo couldn’t resist asking Lu Huaming.

"It’s the Founding Ancestor of Demon King Fort—no, more specifically, the Great Strength Bull Demon King, the acclaimed first master of the Demon King Fort," Lu Huaming explained.

Shen Luo, hearing this, remembered the Dreamland where he had encountered the Bull Demon King. During that time, most of the major sects in the world had already been annihilated, leaving only remnants of resistance. It was no wonder the Bull Demon King had never spoken of his past.

"Isn’t the current sect master of Demon King Fort the King of Demons?" Shen Luo recalled the bald man he had seen in Chang’an and inquired further.

"That happened after the Bull Demon King stepped back from the spotlight and elevated him to the position," Lu Huaming replied.

As the two conversed, the rumbling thunder grew increasingly intense. Around them, the winds fell completely still, and an eerie silence fell across Morning Sound Valley and its surroundings.

Suddenly, from beyond the sea of clouds, Seven Kills’ thunderous voice echoed, "Jiang Shentian, might I request your aid in breaking through this Fox Clan formation?"

Jiang Shentian’s eyes flashed with surprise at the unexpected plea.

The Demon King Fort and the Heavenly Palace had always been at odds. That Seven Kills, such a prideful man, would voluntarily seek his help was truly unheard of.

"Well, the sun really must be rising in the west today," Jiang Shentian muttered but did not refuse. He ascended and vanished into the sea of clouds.

What they discussed remained unknown, but it didn’t take long for golden light to bloom within the roiling dark clouds. Emerging from within was a towering golden pagoda over a hundred feet tall, piercing through the swirling mist to appear beside the demonic bull’s colossal shadow.

"Demonic Seal Overturning Heaven, Heaven-Shaking Technique."

"Exquisite Pagoda, Divine Suppression."

Two thunderous voices, as mighty as crashing storms, reverberated from the depths of the skydome, spreading through the void.

In the next instant, the dense black clouds churned violently as if the heavens themselves were about to part. Within the skies, two colossal circular voids emerged—one spewing black light, the other radiating golden light.

Boundless demonic energy and radiant divine power descended simultaneously. A massive black ox hoof and a radiant seven-level golden pagoda pressed down toward Morning Sound Valley below.