Chapter 7: Arrival of the Demon

At noon, the scorching sun had climbed to its zenith. A wave of searing heat descended, and dazzling light shone over Great Zhou. The imperial city burst back to life; everyone stood at the ready, revealing a resolve to die if need be.

"I want to hear your thoughts—why have you chosen to stay?"

Ye Jiuyao mounted the city wall, Luo Qingyu at her side. The gazes of the assembled shifted from Luo Qingyu to Ye Jiuyao.

"Because Great Zhou is my home."

"And are you afraid of death?"

"Not at all!"

Ye Jiuyao suddenly laughed, then spoke in a light, humorous tone. "Come now, who isn't afraid of death? So, there's no need to be tense. If soldiers come, we meet them; if floods come, we block them. If we can't win, we run. At worst, we start over. Survival is what matters most…

"Besides, you're all still young, haven't even found partners yet—it would be a shame to die now. Unless, of course, you're like me: talented, handsome, irresistible to the ladies—just like this…"

Laughter broke out among the crowd. Ye Jiuyao's words eased their tension considerably. Though the tremors from outside still weighed heavily on their minds, there was no longer fear, but rather a spark of excitement.

"Yaoyao, take Qingyu and leave! I'll cover you!" Ye Hanzhou, his armor stained with blood, sprinted over with a long sword in hand, speaking urgently.

"It's no big deal, don't panic. You should be like me—keep calm, right, Qingyu?" Ye Jiuyao glanced at Luo Qingyu and spoke gently, her expression unruffled. Even as clouds of smoke and dust rolled across the sky, the corners of her mouth lifted in a smile.

"Luo Qingyu, come out!"

The voice thundered like a storm. Emperor Wujie stood before the crowd, imposing and furious.

"Step back, all of you. There's no need for needless deaths. Leave this to me."

The crowd looked at Ye Jiuyao in astonishment. Ye Hanzhou and Luo Qingyu nodded and retreated from the wall, though the others remained confused.

"Everyone, fall back!" Ye Hanzhou ordered. Faces hesitated, but military command prevailed, and they withdrew.

Now, Ye Jiuyao alone stood atop the wall, embodying the spirit of one who could hold a pass against ten thousand foes. She was calm, even exuding a trace of disdain.

"Come on, then!" All eyes followed Ye Jiuyao's movement as she suddenly extended a finger, curled it, and beckoned provocatively at those below.

The soldiers who had retreated suddenly felt their withdrawal was ill-advised, but with the situation so tense, they had no choice but to trust Ye Jiuyao—a youth of only fifteen or sixteen.

"Ye Jiuyao!"

Upon seeing her, Emperor Wujie gritted his teeth in hatred. This young woman had embarrassed him again and again; now he wanted nothing more than to tear her limb from limb.

"Brother Wujie, why get so worked up? Soon the whole of Great Zhou will be ours, and their lives and deaths will be at your whim. Why let a dead person provoke you?"

A figure in a black cloak, adorned with a pagoda emblem and showing only a pair of eyes, approached Emperor Wujie, speaking in a raspy voice.

"Oh, it's the sissy from the Nether Hall? Don't worry. For my father-in-law's death, none of you from Nether Hall will escape!"

At the sight of the distinctive black cloak and pagoda, Ye Jiuyao immediately recognized the intruder's allegiance.

"Such bold words..."

Below the city wall, the crowd watched Ye Jiuyao brazenly hurling threats. More astonishing, the two great powers actually listened, and soon began bickering with each other.

"Attack!" Emperor Wujie’s patience had run dry. At his command, a mighty host of cultivators surged forward like a plague of locusts.

"Mere ants!"

Ye Jiuyao’s aura erupted, thunderous as lightning in the heavens, cascading like celestial waters from Jade Pool.

"What? Early Qi Integration stage?!"

"No… that's impossible…"

The black-cloaked man and Emperor Wujie stared in shock, murderous intent flashing in their eyes. At fifteen or sixteen years old, Ye Jiuyao had reached heights others would never attain in a lifetime—a prodigy of the ages. As long as she lived, they would know no peace.

"We have to strike now. For one so young to possess such cultivation, her means must be endless!" The black-cloaked figure conferred with Emperor Wujie, who agreed. In a heartbeat, the armies of both factions hurled themselves at Great Zhou.

The defenders, seeing the oncoming deluge, were paralyzed—none dared step forward, held back by Ye Hanzhou.

Though frustrated that their lives now depended on a youth, even one as powerful as Ye Jiuyao, only Ye Hanzhou, Luo Qingyu, and a few who had vied for the primal crystal mine knew that Ye Jiuyao’s strength was far more terrifying, reaching an almost unimaginable level.

Sure enough, in the next instant, Ye Jiuyao moved.

"My parents taught me to be humble. If you want to play the villain, don't chatter on. And as for putting on airs—you still have a long way to go."

In a flash, Ye Jiuyao stamped her right foot. Her overwhelming power spread like a vast net over the advancing enemies, crushing them under its weight. The weaker cultivators spat blood and fell at once.

"If you had three or five more years, perhaps we wouldn’t be your match. But… you’re out of time!"

Emperor Wujie and the black-cloaked man moved at blinding speed, appearing at Ye Jiuyao’s side in a heartbeat. Their fists, heavy as stars, crashed down on her, but she stood unmoving, letting their blows fall.

The defenders of Great Zhou watched in terror; Luo Qingyu covered her eyes, and Ye Hanzhou clenched his fists, prepared to leap in at any moment.

"Still not coming out?!"

Ye Jiuyao roared, her eyes blazing with fire. From her brow burst a radiant light, and behind her loomed a monstrous demon, exuding a terrifying aura.

"Come forth!" Now her gaze held only cold indifference, as though she were a deity.

The demon merged into her body, and Ye Jiuyao became almost otherworldly. A violent gale of power swept out from her, scattering all before her.

With a sickening sound, the mighty wind injured all below the Qi Integration stage; in an instant, the forces of the two factions were decimated. Only a few of the strongest, including Emperor Wujie and the black-cloaked man, withstood the onslaught.

"Since you’re here, leave your bones to nourish this land!"

Ye Jiuyao’s furious roar set loose an endless demonic wind. Vital energy surged forth like stormy seas, and with one punch she overturned the world.

In an instant, her fist descended, unleashing a thunderous shockwave. Sensing the impending doom, Emperor Wujie and the others poured out their energy, and several terrifying forces collided directly with Ye Jiuyao’s colossal fist.