Chapter 454: Shadows of the Fallen Dominion

Waves of demonic aura roiled and intertwined, as the terrifying presence of the Black Bull Demon God Supreme leaked out, warping space in its wake.

This time, his true form had appeared. Sensing something amiss, the Black Bull Demon God Supreme rushed over himself—the unease in his heart stirred by his demonic intuition.

He trusted his instincts. Yet when he arrived outside the courtyard where the Ogre resided and located the Night Bat Demon God, his worry evaporated completely.

The Black Bull Demon God Supreme was enveloped in surging demonic energy, revealing only a single ox head with piercing red eyes and raised brows as he glared at the Night Bat Demon God.

“Night Bat, did something happen?”

“Did that Ogre make a move against you?”

The Black Bull Demon God Supreme couldn’t help but ask.

However, the Night Bat Demon God replied respectfully, clasping his fists in salute, “My lord, I have been closely monitoring the Underworld Ogre. I haven’t detected any irregularity.”

Hearing this, the Black Bull Demon God Supreme’s doubts slowly faded. He shot Night Bat a glance, noting he appeared unscathed—not grievously wounded—so he didn’t press further.

After all, Night Bat was one of his most trusted underlings. When the Qitian Temple inheritance was unlocked in the future, Night Bat would be tasked with scouting and gathering resources—of utmost importance.

Due to the demonic corruption spread by the mysterious temple’s divine nature, countless demons were born in the mortal world. Even nations like Great Realm and Da Li Wangting have seen an explosion in demonic births.

Beyond these lands, demons had even established the Ten Thousand Great Rivers by emulating the Bizarre Temple’s Ghostly Demon Den, amassing vast numbers and intensifying their resource demands.

The Black Bull Demon God Supreme encouraged Night Bat briefly.

Sensing something, Night Bat excused himself and vanished back into the void, leaving behind a fine crack as delicate as a strand of hair.

Turning around, the Black Bull Demon God Supreme locked eyes with the imposing, tower-like Ogre in the courtyard, whose cold, scrutinizing gaze pierced through him.

A black ox and a cute ox—two beings seemingly locking eyes across space.

The Black Bull Demon God Supreme smiled wryly; unfortunately, he really was an ox.

And the Ogre… nothing more than a counterfeit donning a mask. With a rumbling blast and a vortex of dark wind and demonic aura, the Black Bull Demon God Supreme retreated, returning to the City Lord’s Residence. Stationed there, he sensed from the three city gates and identified all human strong cultivators entering the city.

As the challenge progressed, more and more powerful cultivators stepped into the city.

The demonic gods guarding the three gates were all in the realm of Catastrophe and Calamity, while many of the human cultivators were in the level of Catastrophe and Double Calamity.

Many were even masters of the Catastrophe-Two Calamity realm.

Moreover, the earlier death of the White Crane Demon God had all the demons wary, unwilling to risk everything. To fall like the White Crane Demon God would be too costly.

After all, the impending Qitian Temple Spirit Resonance was imminent. As demons, they already enjoyed a major advantage in the Qitian Demon Sage’s Temple Spirit Resonance.

At this juncture, fighting human cultivators might be acceptable if injuries were minor. But if one perished and lost the chance for the Qitian Temple Spirit Resonance, it would be a grievous loss.

A successful Temple Spirit Resonance in the Sanqing Bizarre Temple would bring tremendous benefits!

If one truly inherited the Qitian Temple Spirit Resonance, it might even lead to being ushered into the Ghostly Demon Den and joining the pantheon of gods!

Outside Qitian City’s inner and outer circles, in the courtyard.

Li Che, wearing the Ogre Mask, watched the departing Big Black Ox and slowly exhaled.

Yet the murderous intent hiding in his eyes was unmistakable.

From the moment this Big Black Ox began scheming against XiXi—when it attempted to capture her and deliver her to the Ghostly Demon Den—the killing intent in Li Che’s heart was set ablaze.

After all, this was a Big Black Bull Demon God Supreme of the Catastrophe-Two Calamity realm.

When a revered master of the Two Calamity realm, whose cultivation is a matter of pride, targets his own daughter, how can Li Che remain calm?

Moreover, the Big Black Ox represented not just himself, but countless demons of the Ten Thousand Great Rivers. It stood for the Ghostly Demon Den—a whole divine pantheon!

Li Che’s gaze fell. XiXi’s connection to the Yulian faction was now inevitable.

Ever since XiXi accepted the Third Prince Temple Spirit Resonance inheritance, her future had been entwined with the Yulian faction.

She had even come to be known as the Daughter of Yulian.

Li Che wasn’t clear on the significance of being the Daughter of Yulian—what status or legacy that entailed within the Yulian faction…

But the fact that the Ghostly Demon Den prized this status meant it was nothing short of extraordinary!

“Thank goodness—XiXi remains in the mortal realm. The pantheon of gods will not meddle with the mortal world for now.”

Li Che adjusted his Ogre Mask.

In the mortal realm, the restrictions of the will of heaven and earth serve as protection—for both the cultivators and for XiXi.

Whoosh—

In a split second, his mind shifted, and he found himself back in Mo City Shandu.

Inside Shandu, on the uneven, rain-soaked streets of Mo City, a massive bat carcass lay sprawled. Icy, ink-colored rain lashed down continuously, washing over the corpse as twisted black blood seeped out.

This wasn’t the natural color of blood, but one altered by a potent venom—a toxin so lethal that not even a Catastrophe-Two Calamity Demon God could withstand it.

Beside the enormous bat, a slender figure in a black hooded cloak, appearing like a researcher, was extracting essence and venom from the carcass.

“My Lord.”

Gu Yinxuan halted his extraction upon seeing Li Che.

As a Poison Saint, he was obsessed with venom—especially that from a Catastrophe-Two Calamity Demon God.

Li Che shot Gu Yinxuan a gentle smile.

In a bid to save time and swiftly eliminate the Night Bat Demon God, Li Che was forced to deploy his secret weapon: Gu Yinxuan.

Once Gu Yinxuan acted—launching one Nine-Turn Ascending Dragon Pill in one hand and a Three-Legged Golden Toad Pendant in the other—the Night Bat Demon God lost all hope of resistance and was brutally slain by Li Che, who then unleashed the full might of Fan Hai Jiuying.

Black smoke coiled as the Night Bat Demon God’s Spiritual Confinement form materialized; his wings retracted into a humanoid shape, albeit a hideous one, with his two tusks bared in a feral snarl.

Rather than feeding him to the Ten Fierce Ink Splatter Scroll to nourish Jiuying, Li Che opted to employ Spiritual Confinement.

After all, the Night Bat Demon God still had significant utility—whether as an informant or as a setup for a backstab, he was invaluable.

Originally, the Night Bat Demon God was placed by the Big Black Ox next to the Underworld Ogre as an eye in the sky. But Li Che’s blunt approach not only turned him but ensured his unwavering loyalty.

It could only be said that the Underworld’s methods far exceeded the demons’ imaginations.

Even the Night Bat Demon God himself was left in awe.

This Underworld was no legitimate force—it was clearly a den of chaos!

Li Che gave the Night Bat Demon God several orders. Now under the influence of Spiritual Confinement, his loyalty to Li Che was absolute—a suppression far beyond what demon ranks could impose.

“My Lord, once the Qitian Temple inheritance begins, my ultrasonic sensors will swiftly detect resources—be they Dao Essence Divine Crystals or Divine Crystals. And if we enter the Bizarre Temple, I can even locate and track Divine Crystal mines!”

The Night Bat Demon God proudly recited his capabilities.

Li Che’s eyes lit up. Realizing the enormous role the Night Bat Demon God had played under the Big Black Ox’s command, Li Che’s heart began to stir.

It could only be said that the Big Black Ox was truly generous—such a powerful demon, now fed to him so that the Night Bat Demon God could resume his disguised reconnaissance.

Meanwhile, Gu Yinxuan reported the latest research progress, saying, “My Lord, after 367 near-death experiences, the progress on the Thousand-Bone Withering formula, ranked eighth on the Toxic God Pill classics, is significant.”

“I estimate another 180 deaths, and the Thousand-Bone Withering will be complete,” Gu Yinxuan added excitedly.

Li Che’s lips twitched as he muttered in astonishment, “So many deaths already…”

“Old Gu, you’ve worked hard,” Li Che couldn’t help but say.

Gu Yinxuan, with his meticulous face, broke into a smile, “My Lord, it’s the fate I deserve.”

Gu Yinxuan then departed, taking with him the essence and venom of the Night Bat Demon God to research a new lethal toxin.

Unhesitatingly, Li Che didn’t show mercy. He extracted the demon pill from the Night Bat Demon God and began absorbing its demonic aura to empower his Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit.

The Wan Yao Di Dao Fruit absorbed the demonic aura with astounding speed, finishing the process before he knew it.

Playing with the demon pill that shimmered like a noctilucent pearl, Li Che’s eyes began to sparkle with ambition as he plotted his counter against the Big Black Ox.

Facing a demon lord who threatened his daughter’s safety, Li Che dared not underestimate him.

Suddenly, Li Che recalled the roundtable meetings orchestrated by the Big Black Ox among the demons, and a sly smile curled his lips.

“There are twelve demon lords in total. This shouldn’t represent all the demons of the Ten Thousand Great Rivers in the mortal realm—perhaps only those under the Black Bull Demon God Supreme.”

Li Che pondered. He knew too little about the demons of the Ten Thousand Great Rivers, yet his mind stirred.

As if answering his thoughts, the formerly departed Night Bat Demon God returned.

“My Lord, you wish to know the overall strength of the mortal demons?”

Unreservedly, the Night Bat Demon God replied, “The mortal demons, backed by the Ghostly Demon Den of the pantheon, boast two Supreme Demon Gods and six Demon Lords among the Ten Thousand Great Rivers—if not more in numbers.”

“In fact, 500 years ago, the demons were far fewer in number. They swelled only after occupying Qitian City and communicating with the Ghostly Demon Den,” he murmured.

Upon hearing this, Li Che felt a slight tremor within him.

Demons—are they really that powerful?!

Yet, it was merely an impression.

After all, this was the total power of all mortal demons compared to humans—and humans had forces like Great Realm, Da Li, Witch God Mountain, and the Western Lands of Buddhism.

The combined strength of these powerful forces should not be much weaker than that of the demons.

Only Supreme Demon Gods of the Triple Calamity level could be deemed supreme, while the title of Revered was reserved for those of the Two Calamity realm.

The Big Black Ox was indeed a Two Calamity Demon God.

Do any human cultivators wield Triple Calamity Divine Calamities?

Yes—indeed, though Li Che had yet to encounter them. The restrictions imposed by the will of heaven and earth on high-caliber cultivators kept their profiles low, limiting Li Che’s means of knowing them.

“Rest assured, my Lord, mortal Supreme Demon Gods cannot act—even within Qitian City.”

Thus, the Supreme Demon Gods of the Ten Thousand Great Rivers have long operated from within the Bizarre Temple.

“Within the pantheon of the Ghostly Demon Den, there are far more Supreme Demon Gods—even actual deities,”

spoke the Night Bat Demon God gravely. He had now automatically aligned himself with the Underworld faction, his tone somber.

“It’s a pity—in the demon realm, ranks are strictly defined. I haven’t seen even two Supreme Demon Gods from the Ten Thousand Great Rivers. All I’ve heard from the demon lords is that when the Divine Tide comes and the era of great strife descends, powerful beings will spring up like mushrooms after rain—and the mortal world will be turned upside down!”

The Night Bat Demon God concluded.

Divine Tide—

Li Che’s heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard of the Divine Tide.

However, his understanding of it remained vague.

As for the era of great strife spoken of by Night Bat, Li Che strangely resonated with that notion.

When an era of great strife comes, those caught at a bottleneck will break through, and the process becomes considerably easier. Cultivators like Lü Taibai and Ji Mo Li have leaped into the Divine Calamity.

There’s also the case of Ye Pengju, the governor of the Temple Guardian Division in the Divine Capital.

Even the legends of old and the supreme beings at Heavenly Gate have advanced, beginning to stir in a fierce contest.

After inquiring further with Night Bat, Li Che sent him away. After all, he needed to report to the Big Black Ox at regular intervals. A misstep in timing might arouse suspicion.

“There are twelve demon lords remaining…”

Li Che’s eyes sparkled as his fingers drummed lightly. In the next moment, a faint smile spread across his lips.

Inside Qitian City, the inner city was where the inheritance was kept. It had yet to be unlocked—rendering it inaccessible even to demons.

“There’s only half a month left before the inner city of Qitian opens. Then, the Temple Spirit Resonance will commence. I wonder if I can secure the allegiance of all twelve demon lords before then?”

By ‘securing allegiance’, he meant Spiritual Confinement.

To Li Che, Spiritual Confinement was the perfect means of subjugation.

As torrential ink-black rain pounded the ground, splashing in every direction,

Li Che seemed to be encased in an invisible field, as if a vacuum had been formed around him, repelling the rain.

“It’s a tall order, but not impossible—”

The thought of the Big Black Ox being backstabbed by twelve demon lords, reduced to a shredded mess, amused him.

“First, I must ascertain the exact strength of these twelve demon lords: those of the Catastrophe-One Calamity, Catastrophe-Two, and even those at Catastrophe-Three Calamity…

“As long as they aren’t Two Calamity-level demons, I can handle them,” Li Che mused.

Moreover, Li Che harbored an audacious idea.

His horizons had broadened immensely. He knew that the true threat to his daughter wasn’t the mortal demons but rather the Supreme beings from the Ghostly Demon Den—even deities!

Thus, by securing the allegiance of numerous demons, he could later use them as a trump card against the Ghostly Demon Den.

With renewed determination,

Li Che exited Mo City.

Immediately, he found himself back in the courtyard of Qitian City.

Slowly rising, his jet-black hair whipped around like bolts of dark lightning, creating explosive sounds as his massive frame strained against his garments. Muscles jutted out in layered blocks.

Beneath his Ogre Mask, his eyes burned like golden flames.

“Twelve demon lords, congratulations—you have been surrounded.”

Hunting down the twelve demon lords was a grand plan.

Moreover, it had to be executed without alerting the Black Bull Demon God Supreme—a formidable challenge indeed.

After all, not all demon lords concealed their demonic aura like the Night Bat Demon God, who hid in the void to monitor and hoard his energy, thus creating an exploitable loophole.

Li Che had effortlessly dragged him into Mo City Shandu without raising suspicions.

Other demon lords radiated terrifying demonic energy; if pulled into Shandu, their aura would vanish instantly.

Qitian City was suffused with a dense haze of demonic energy—not solely spawned by the Black Bull Demon God Supreme but by fourteen allied demon lords under his command.

After the fall of the White Crane Demon God and Night Bat Demon God, only twelve demon lords remained to sustain Qitian City’s demonic aura.

Li Che did not act immediately—in his customary calm.

Outside Qitian City, after several days of observation, Lü Qiankun made his move.

A cultivator of the Catastrophe-Two Calamity realm, he effortlessly overpowered the Sword Antelope Demon God guarding the city. Meanwhile, although Fang Han Shu possessed Divine Calamity cultivation, his methods to conceal aura were lacking, and his top-tier presence allowed him easy entry into the city.

In the end, only Lü Taibai remained.

Winds, stirred by surges of demonic energy, howled continuously.

Lü Taibai’s silver hair whipped as the Taibai Sword hidden in his sleeve hummed repeatedly. He glanced at Li Che and the XiXi he escorted.

“I am about to make my move,” Lü Taibai declared.

Lü Taibai asked, “Are you taking XiXi and the others into Qitian City?”

Li Che’s secret trump card was too abundant to worry about.

“Enter the city. We can’t leave these little ones outside—they’re safer in than out. They don’t even need to take part in the Temple Spirit Resonance; it will broaden their horizons.”

Li Che’s dark coat billowed as a warm smile graced his face.

Lü Taibai nodded and ruffled XiXi’s head, “Time for your master to lead the way!”

In the next moment, the Taibai Sword concealed in his sleeve vibrated with a resounding clang as brilliant sword light surged forth, aiming straight for the Sword Antelope Demon God atop the West City wall.

Entering the city, Lü Taibai, harnessing the power of Annihilating God-Wind from his Divine Calamity state, quickly subdued the Sword Antelope Demon God—whose vigor had long since waned—and escorted him into the city.

His primary duty at the West Gate was to block any human cultivators foolish enough to storm into Qitian City.

For those with insufficient strength, daring to challenge the Qitian Demon Sage’s inheritance was unthinkable.

After entering the city, Lü Taibai swiftly rendezvoused with Lü Qiankun and Fang Han Shu.

The three then appeared atop the city wall.

Meanwhile, Li Che led XiXi, trailed by Yun’e, Zhou Peng, and the tail-like Jin Taisui.

The four little ones obediently stayed by Li Che’s side.

The group then assembled at the foot of the wall.

Just as the Sword Antelope Demon God was about to speak,

a rumble of demonic energy surged, and the overwhelming aura of the Black Bull Demon God Supreme shrouded Qitian City, gradually revealing his form—a terrifying force of intertwined energy.

Li Che regarded the Black Bull Demon God Supreme with a calm gaze.

“Little ones want to learn? You may enter the city if you defeat your opponent,” the Black Bull Demon God Supreme bellowed like a booming bell.

Even XiXi’s face showed nervous tension. Although Li Che’s protective aura shielded them somewhat, facing a Two Calamity Demon God still made the four kids gulp nervously.

Especially Jin Taisui, who already bore a trace of demonic blood; his legs trembled almost uncontrollably.

“Defeat your opponent, and you may enter,” repeated the Black Bull Demon God Supreme in a thunderous voice.

In truth, his gaze had already fixed on XiXi, recognizing her as the Daughter of Yulian.

His goal was to capture the Daughter of Yulian. Whether XiXi entered the city was of little consequence to him.

However, entry was certainly preferable—it meant he wouldn’t have to leave Qitian City.

Li Che chuckled softly upon hearing this, reading the Black Bull Demon God Supreme’s look. His smile carried a hint of chilling resolve.

On the city tower, Fang Han Shu’s expression subtly changed, as if he too sensed something amiss.

After a pause, Fang Han Shu transmitted softly to Li Che, “Che, do not bring XiXi into Qitian City.”

Li Che glanced at Fang Han Shu and nodded reassuringly, his look conveying understanding.

Even someone as privy as Li Che could sense Fang Han Shu’s concern for XiXi.

Fang Han Shu was momentarily taken aback, then instantly understood—Li Che had also perceived that something was off about the Black Bull Demon God Supreme. With that, he said no more.

Suddenly, a top-tier demon king emerged from under the Sword Antelope Demon God who guarded the West Gate.

Faced with this supreme demon king, Li Che opted for a straightforward, brutal tactic: with a flick of his fingers, a streak of light burst forth accompanied by resounding clamor.

Almost instantly, the Tongbi Qitian Armor manifested!

Li Che, with XiXi and the others, landed inside the control room atop the head of the Qitian Armor. The room was crisscrossed with myriad mechanical marks, their dazzling light interwoven in a spectacular display.

“Wow!” XiXi exclaimed in amazement, her eyes sparkling.

“Daddy, can I control this giant mech-like contraption?”

XiXi’s enthusiasm was nearly overwhelming.

Li Che ruffled her hair gently and said, “You’ll have to grow stronger a bit more first—controlling such a mechanism requires a top-tier Heaven and Earth Soul, and you’re still a long way off.”

Boom—

In that moment, Li Che’s mind surged, and he clenched his fist within the Qitian Armor.

The debut of such a divine machine left cultivators from every camp—from Great Realm to Divine Sect—in utter awe.

The demon king guarding the city nearly got smashed by a single punch:

The Sword Antelope Demon God intervened with a grim expression. A Divine Transformation who had mastered the art of the Four Gods controlling a mechanism could unleash War God-level power!

It was truly over the top—

Humans had managed to develop such terrifying mechanical arts!

The colossal Qitian Armor roared and trembled with every step, as if the very earth shuddered under its weight.

Once inside the city, Li Che retracted the Qitian Armor and led XiXi and the other three into an assembly area where Lü Qiankun and the others had gathered, under the cool, resonant gaze of the Black Bull Demon God Supreme.

Within Qitian City, everyone naturally huddled together.

“At last, we’re in the city… Daughter of Yulian!”

In the skies over Qitian City,

the Black Bull Demon God Supreme’s eyes shone with a mysterious light.

For a fleeting moment, extreme excitement flickered in his gaze. Capturing the Daughter of Yulian and delivering her to the Ghostly Demon Den would be a monumental achievement—possibly even the key to shattering the Triple Calamity and attaining supremacy!

Inside the courtyard,

after arranging XiXi, Jin Taisui, and the others, Li Che seemed to hear the low murmurs of the Black Bull Demon God Supreme.

A cold, ruthless smile tugged at his lips.

His daughter’s existence had to be eradicated.

Even if it meant confronting a Two Calamity Demon God.

Li Che then activated a new version of the Feilei Chess Piece upon XiXi and the others.

Whenever XiXi encountered mortal peril, the Feilei Chess Piece would automatically trigger, teleporting them to Mo City Langdu.

Once in Mo City, they would be safe.

Mo City Langdu—

no enemy daring enough to trespass there would ever escape.

Outside Qitian City, battles continued as numerous powerful cultivators sought entry.

As time passed, the day of the Qitian inheritance drew ever nearer.

In the courtyard of Qitian City,

Li Che, donning his Ogre Mask, drew in deep breaths and stirred the mighty winds.

Just as he prepared to implement his demon subjugation plan,

a powerful force—so immense it seemed to distort space—erupted from outside the door, heralding an encroaching terror.

His eyes suddenly snapped open.

In that heartbeat,

the courtyard door burst open.

And there, outside the door—

a large black dog strolled in with an air of elegance, its tail swaying leisurely.

Beneath the Ogre Mask, Li Che’s eyes lit up in sudden recognition.

Dog Master?!