Chapter 149: The Demon Horde Targets Xuanwu City

Sword Qi Era, Year 8000, March 27.

Just as Li Xun and Xie Lingtian led their forces from Tian Gu City into Xuanwu City for some much-needed rest.

Meanwhile, Lin Mo commanded a massive army from Zhuque City, crossing Qinglong City and Baihu City in just half a day, his blade now pointing straight at Xuanwu City.

Within Xuanwu City’s walls it was peaceful and quiet. Everyone was deep in sleep, exhausted after countless battles.

Dong, dong, dong—

Suddenly the Xuanwu Bell inside the city rang out three times, sending a huge and piercing sound rolling across both the inner and outer city. Everyone jolted awake in terror.

Whenever the Xuanwu Bell tolled, it meant a life-or-death crisis—an enemy had arrived.

Boom—

Right after, a deafening crash echoed from the outer gate. The sturdy outer wall of Xuanwu City turned to dust in an instant.

As everyone scrambled awake, still groggy with sleep and fear, they looked up in horror toward the outside.

Rumble—

Another earth-shattering sound followed as a gigantic hand wreathed in black energy smashed through the remains of the outer gate.

Where the palm swept past, nothing was left but ruins. Citizens and cultivators still asleep inside the outer city never woke up—peaceful forever, lost in endless slumber.

Once proud and sprawling, the outer city of Xuanwu vanished with a single blow.

Only the inner city survived. Those living within its walls witnessed the destruction, their legs giving out as they collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

Grief, pain, and outrage twisted their faces—there was no time for mourning lost loved ones, only raw suffering.

At that moment, a massive wave of figures soared into the air, taking position above the ruins of the once-great outer city.

As terrified eyes locked onto these looming figures, another strike came—leveling what few buildings remained.

Under that mighty palm, all life was equal. Countless lively souls vanished in an instant, reduced to nothing but dust.

Some guards, their anger boiling over, shot into the air. Pure hatred drowned out any fear, driving them to the frontlines.

A commander stepped forward, his aura surging. He glared furiously at the endless swarm of demons, and roared.

“Damn demons! Get out of our home—you have no right to be here!”

“Brothers, fight with me! We’ll wipe these invaders out—avenge everyone we’ve lost!”

With a single sweep of his arm, the commander rallied his men. In an instant, a hundred thousand city defenders took to the sky, weapons raised against the invaders.

Lin Mo watched, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Ha! Murong girl, tell me—does this so-called courage your humans show in the face of death really mean anything?”

“Honestly, I think it’s nothing more than a futile struggle before the end. They don’t even know how hopeless they are!”

“Pah—”

Murong Qingxue spat fiercely, the saliva hitting Lin Mo’s face as she snarled, “You’ll never understand! This is the kind of courage that faces death to survive!”

“How dare you, human! Showing such disrespect to our king!” A demon guard pointed his weapon at Murong Qingxue, enraged.

“Stand down,” Lin Mo said with a cheerful smile, brushing off his face. He gestured for the guard to lower his weapon.

The guard bowed and said, “As you wish, my king.”

Once the guard stepped away, Lin Mo walked over to Murong Qingxue.

“Murong girl, keep your eyes wide open—you won’t want to miss such a spectacular show,” he said with a smirk, pointing toward the inner city.

“What?!” Murong Qingxue looked where Lin Mo pointed.

A Sword King Realm commander, leading a hundred thousand Sword Qi and Sword Sea Realm defenders, threw himself straight into the midst of the million-strong demon army.

“Like a moth to a flame. You’re all doomed!”

Several silhouettes from the demon army moved. In a flash, before the human defenders could react, these demons crushed the heads of all hundred thousand soldiers.

And at the head of these newly risen Demon Lords—was Molly.

Molly stepped forward, surveying the trembling survivors below. She didn’t care for their fear. Her voice rang out like a great bell.

“Listen up, humans! I am the demon commander for this campaign—Molly!”

“Our king is merciful and doesn’t wish to see every last human die. He’s offering you a chance.”

“If you surrender and serve us as slaves, your lives will be spared!”

“You can refuse, of course, but remember—your life is only yours once. Make your choice carefully, because some things lost are lost forever.”

As the words settled over the people below, whispers and worried murmurs spread through the crowd, everyone hesitating—until a single voice made the decision for them.

“Ha! What mercy! What a touching warning! If you sing as well as you talk, you’d run the show! I choose a third path—the one where I kill you all!”

A voice echoed from the skies as a tide of human cultivators swept in.

Molly gave a lazy glance and frowned at the newcomers. “And who are you supposed to be?”

Those standing in the air stared back at Molly. The scene felt almost identical to one from before—a memory fresh as yesterday. They all looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

“Why not? Listen up!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Sect Master: Li Xun!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Grand Elder: Li Ran!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Second Elder: An Peisheng!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Third Elder: Li Zai’an!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Fourth Elder: Lu Tingxue!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Fifth Elder: Qiao Ling’er!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Sixth Elder: Xuanyuan Ling!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Seventh Elder: Lu Jingquan!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Eighth Elder: Mo Lin!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Ninth Elder: An Muran!”

“Sky Sword Sect, Tenth Elder: Luo Sen!”

“Xuanwu City Lord: Nangong Wentian!”

“Jianwu Dynasty: Xie Lingtian!”

“Jianwu Dynasty: Xie Jinxuan!”

“Jianwu Dynasty: Xie Wanyi!”

“We’ve gathered our strongest to come here and slay demons—avenge every friend and loved one we’ve lost!”

Across from them, demon soldiers flew into a rage at such arrogant declarations.

“Shameless! If you’re so brave, let me see what you’re made of!” A Demon Saint Realm commander—Mo Fei—lifted his weapon, itching for battle.

“Mo Fei, stand down!” Molly ordered, stopping him with a wave.

“If the commander says so, I won’t argue. But as for the rest of you, my blade has been itching for a fight. I’ll be waiting!”

Mo Fei jabbed his weapon at the humans and snorted, then fell back.

Still hoping to persuade them, Molly tried again, “Are you all really not going to reconsider my offer?”

Nangong Wentian’s anger burst out. “So what—you think you can hit us and then hand us a peace offering? After all the humans you’ve slaughtered? Eight thousand years, and this grudge between our races still isn’t settled! Today it ends!”

Seeing how resolute Nangong Wentian was, Molly sighed. “I guess there’s no room to talk. Looks like we can only settle this on the battlefield.”

Mo Fei grinned wickedly. “Finally, some action! I’ve been dying for this—my great blade is thirsty for blood!”

“Demon Blade: Slaughter Draw!”

Mo Fei’s face twisted into a snarl as he gripped his broadsword, black energy pouring from the blade. It radiated a chilling and sinister aura.

With a twist of his wrist, Mo Fei charged Nangong Wentian, leading the attack.

“Watch out!” Nangong Wentian’s eyes flashed with alarm—he knew his opponent was not to be underestimated. He leapt aside, barely dodging the blow.

Pausing just long enough to catch his breath, Nangong Wentian turned and cursed furiously at Mo Fei.

“You little bastard, sneaking up on me like that! I’ll beat you so bad you’ll go running home to your mother!”

Mo Fei sneered. “It’s easy to talk big—let’s see what you’re really made of! Enough words, show me if your fists can back up that mouth!”

The demon’s eyes turned cold. He licked the tip of his blade and charged straight at Nangong Wentian with a deadly intent.

“Arrogant fool! Fury of a Thousand Fists!”

Nangong Wentian’s energy spiked all the way to Sword Saint Realm Five. Flames erupted over his powerful fists, and thousands of fiery punches burst simultaneously, creating afterimages that struck in every direction.

“Not good!” Mo Fei froze mid-attack and flipped his blade up to block the assault.

Before he could celebrate, pain seared through Mo Fei’s hands—he looked down in horror.

His weapon, once crackling with endless black energy, had been melted clean by the intense heat, leaving only the hilt.

“What the hell! You actually melted my broadsword, forged from meteorite iron!” Mo Fei reeled back in shock, stumbling a few steps away.