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...

"Your Majesty, please don't make things difficult for Old Zhao." Wang Yingxuan, seeing Zhao Tingjian's increasingly distressed expression, reluctantly chimed in, "With Old Zhao's abilities, even if he had the guts, he wouldn't have the capability. It definitely wasn't him who did this."

"Wang Yingxuan, thanks for backing me up." Zhao Tingjian's old face turned red as he glared at her fiercely.

"You're welcome. After all, we're on the same team~" Wang Yingxuan waved her hand, adopting a grand and visionary demeanor, "The most important thing in a team is internal unity."

"Who's on the same team with you?" Zhao Tingjian huffed and glared, "You're just one of the generals under my command, and merely a deputy at that."

"Oh~ Old Zhao, that's not what you said when you took my semi-immortal artifact." Wang Yingxuan glanced at him, "We agreed to soar together."

"If you want to soar, do it yourself. I'm too old to fly."

"If you can't fly, then don't hog the latrine without using it! Stop suppressing us young folks from advancing."

"Come on, let me..."

The old and the young started bickering again.

"Enough, both of you, how can you argue at a time like this?" The Immortal Sovereign's face darkened as he scolded, "Tell me, what's the plan now? Wang Yingxuan, aren't you full of ideas? Why are you silent now?"

Since it wasn't Zhao Tingjian, it was clear the Immortal Dynasty was being framed.

Being forced into a war and facing pressure from both the Nether Fiend Demon God and the Yincha Demon God, how could the Immortal Sovereign not be angry or anxious?

The fact that he wasn't cursing outright was already a testament to his restraint.

Whoever was behind this better not get caught, or he wouldn't let it go!

"Immortal Sovereign, even if I were a reincarnated goddess of war, I'm not omnipotent." Wang Yingxuan rolled her eyes, "Capturing three Demon King Fortresses back then was just catching them off guard, and even then, it took several Lingxu Realm experts to achieve such results. But now, with our limited forces on the eastern front, we're already struggling to hold Redstone and the other three Demon King Fortresses. Now, the vengeful army of the Nether Fiend Demon God, reinforced by elite forces from five Demon King Fortresses and the forces of Redstone and others, has at least three times our strength."

At this point, Wang Yingxuan's expression turned grave, "With such a disparity in forces, the demons don't need any strategy; they can just bulldoze through."

This is the biggest problem on the outer region battlefield now.

The overall strength of the demon forces is far superior to the Immortal and Demon Dynasties. Normally, the various demon gods and their Demon King Fortresses fight separately, but once they unite for some reason, the pressure on the Immortal and Demon Dynasties multiplies.

Now, with just two demon gods joining forces, the Immortal Dynasty is already under immense pressure.

The Immortal Sovereign glared at her, "Weren't you always boasting about achieving unparalleled feats? Didn't you swear to soar with Old Zhao? Why are you chickening out now?"

"It's not that there's no way." Wang Yingxuan's eyes darted around, "Can't you, Immortal Sovereign, project multiple avatars to deplete the enemy, charge in and cause chaos, and kill as many as you can?"

"You brat! Are you addicted to using me as cannon fodder?" The Immortal Sovereign couldn't help but knock on her head, "Do you know how much immortal spirit energy it takes for me to project an avatar? And the loss if one is destroyed?"

"Ouch~"

Wang Yingxuan quickly covered her head and then glanced at Zhao Tingjian, "Let's be serious. Didn't the Nether Fiend Demon God claim to seek revenge on Old Zhao? Why not hand him over to the Nether Fiend Demon God to appease its anger? After all, Old Zhao is always thinking about retirement and isn't much use."

"You brat, I just teased you a bit, and you come up with such a rotten idea?" Zhao Tingjian couldn't help but knock on her head, grumbling, "I just want to retire, not die. I still have a lot of beautiful retirement life waiting for me."

"Handing over Commander Zhao won't help." The Immortal Emperor sighed, a trace of worry on her bright face, "The Nether Fiend Demon God is furious not only for revenge for its heir but also likely to retrieve the 'Nether Fiend True Demon Seed.' Even if we give it ten Old Zhaos to kill, it won't solve the crisis of the demon army at our doorstep."

Her words hit the nail on the head.

The fact that the Nether Fiend True Demon Seed had been inherited by the Nether Fiend Young Master was not a top secret, and the Immortal Emperor had long received related information.

Now, with the Nether Fiend Young Master in trouble, she naturally had her suspicions.

After hearing the Immortal Emperor's explanation, Wang Yingxuan suddenly realized.

She had been puzzled before. It was normal for the Nether Fiend Demon God to be furious and mobilize an army after the sudden death of its heir, the Nether Fiend Young Master. But to go to the extent of inviting the Yincha Demon God to join forces seemed a bit excessive.

After all, as far as she knew, familial ties among demons were not as close as those among humans. Not to mention, the Nether Fiend Demon God and the Nether Fiend Young Master were separated by countless generations.

But if it was because of the Nether Fiend True Demon Seed, then it made sense.

After all, according to the Immortal Emperor's description, its effect was almost comparable to a human's Immortal Scripture. If the Immortal Scripture of the Immortal Dynasty or the Immortal Palace were lost, the Immortal Dynasty would likely go to any lengths to retrieve it.

Wang Yingxuan sighed, her expression somewhat heavy, "Then we can only fight to the death. The demon forces have such a significant advantage that they've formed an overwhelming force, leaving us little strategic space. Fortunately, Old Zhao's defensive works over the years are decent, and we can hold out for a while. We can only try to hold on, delay time, and use this time to gather more reinforcements."

She's not afraid of battle, but she knows that a fight to the death would result in countless casualties on the Immortal Dynasty's side. These are real lives, not just pieces on a chessboard.

"The fear is that while we're gathering reinforcements, the Nether Fiend Demon God's reinforcements will keep coming." The Immortal Emperor frowned, "If that happens, the eastern front will be mired in a quagmire of war, unable to extricate itself. But that's likely the Nether Fiend Demon God's intention, to force out the Nether Fiend True Demon Seed!"

"Unless we can find the real murderer of the Nether Fiend Young Master and have substantial evidence, only then might he withdraw his troops."

"I have a few suspects, but unfortunately... the other side has been plotting for a long time, and it's hard to find a flaw."

"I also have some guesses, but even if we determine who it is, getting clear and strong evidence is too difficult."

Those present were either battle-hardened and experienced or quick-witted and resourceful. As they analyzed the situation, they had already pieced together most of it.

Though no one said it outright, it was clear they suspected the Demon Sovereign.

However, in the current situation, even having a suspect was useless. They still had to solve the immediate crisis.

After some discussion, they couldn't come up with a good solution. They could only send a small team to investigate the death of the Nether Fiend Young Master, hoping for some luck, while also preparing for a full-scale defense and battle.

The eastern front must not be lost. If it falls, the demon army will advance, directly threatening the Immortal No. 3 Base.

At that point, the human world could be at risk.

But the Immortal Dynasty's forces are already stretched thin. Each major defense area must retain enough troops to prevent being overrun, leaving limited forces to support the eastern front of Immortal No. 3 Base.

To prevent the eastern front from being breached, reinforcements must be drawn from the Immortal Dynasty.

After some deliberation, the Immortal Emperor's consciousness quickly returned to the Immortal Dynasty to mobilize reinforcements.

In some well-informed high-ranking clans, young people began to enthusiastically sign up, preparing to rush to the Immortal No. 3 Base.

Among them, Wang Fugui happened to be on official business in the Immortal Court when he received the Immortal Emperor's summons, instructing him to lead the Princess's Mansion troops with Princess Chunnan to quickly support the Immortal No. 3 Base.

Therefore, they immediately gathered their troops and led them to board several cloud ray flying boats, rushing to the outer region battlefield.

Under normal circumstances, given Wang Fugui's age, he wouldn't be conscripted to the battlefield. But these are extraordinary times, requiring extraordinary measures.

This also shows the Immortal Emperor's faith in Wang Fugui.

That kid performed exceptionally well on the battlefields of the Liang and Yan countries. With him on the battlefield, there's a chance he might play a special role in this crisis.

...

Meanwhile.

In Wang Shouzhe's small courtyard.

In the pavilion surrounded by greenery, Wang Shouzhe was sipping immortal tea, reviewing the preliminary results of the Spring Thunder Operation from the outer regions.

Improving the soil of the demon realm and planting economic crops usable by humans is key to the success of the Spring Thunder Operation.

Though he had been experimenting with demon realm soil improvement in the Wang's Clan for years and continuously cultivating new crop varieties with high tolerance to demonic energy.

However, theory is just theory. No matter how meticulous the prior considerations, unexpected minor issues always arise when applied to the demon realm.

Fortunately, his daughter Wang Liyue, having matured through years of experience, was well-prepared for these situations.

Under her leadership, the team overcame many challenges step by step. The experimental fields of Black Crystal Rice No. 9 and Sunrise No. 3 wheat have entered the growth phase, and their growth is very promising.

The nutrients in the demon realm soil are very rich, even better than the black soil of the human race.

Once the Spring Thunder Plan succeeds, it will attract countless clans to the demon realm for development.

It's known that any clan's desire for land is endless, as it represents the ability to feed the clan, grow and prosper, and expand.

Only when individual human families can take root in the demon realm will they have the capital to resist outer region demons. Otherwise, no matter how strong the human army is, it's just water without a source.

"Not bad, not bad, the results are promising." After reading the report, Wang Shouzhe stretched slightly, feeling satisfied.

The Immortal Plant World Tree Wang Zongshi had been waiting nearby. As soon as he saw Wang Shouzhe put down the document, he immediately came over, pestering Wang Shouzhe for a story.

The Basalt Wang Lixuan, who was napping in the corner, also woke up at the scent of a story, darting to Shouzhe's side with a speed that belied her appearance.

A son and a daughter, just like that, surrounded him.

This brought Wang Shouzhe a long-lost sense of emotion.

Once upon a time, he also told stories to Liyue and Zong'an in this small courtyard. In the blink of an eye, the children had grown up, become accomplished, and were now independent in their respective fields, no longer needing his stories.

Later, he told stories to many, many children, and they listened with great joy.

But as time went on, as more clan members heard his stories, his stories began to be pirated, and clan members often plagiarized them to tell their own children. Over time, his small courtyard gradually became quiet.

In the end, the root cause was the proliferation of various private copies. Those stories were trendy and fresh, so who would want to listen to his old-fashioned Journey to the West stories?

In high spirits, Wang Shouzhe began telling stories to Wang Zongshi and Wang Lixuan.

The two little ones, still young and with minds like blank slates, could listen with great interest even to the story of the Three Battles with the White Bone Demon.

After finishing a story, as was customary, Wang Shouzhe began to enlighten them, starting with simple words and arithmetic, then sent them off to practice writing and doing exercises.

Wang Shouzhe realized that the clan school was becoming increasingly competitive, a trend even he, as the clan leader, couldn't stop. Therefore, exercises should start from a young age, allowing them to win at the starting line as much as possible.

After taking care of his children, he was about to ponder writing a letter to Liyue to give some instructions when he suddenly received an urgent report from the Palace of Immortals.

This urgent report was naturally about the situation on the eastern front of the Immortal No. 3 Base in the outer region battlefield.

Seeing this report, Wang Shouzhe frowned.

His first instinct was to suspect if Lici and Yingxuan were up to something again.

There's no helping it; they have a long history of offenses, with rich experience in causing trouble.

Now that their equipment and bloodlines have undergone a major upgrade, doing something earth-shattering would be within reason.

"Master, the Chaoyang King requests an audience."

At this moment, the voice of a family guard came from outside the courtyard, interrupting Wang Shouzhe's thoughts.

Wang Shouzhe had always held the Chaoyang King in high regard, so he hurriedly went out to greet her, inviting her in and offering her good tea.

Today, the Chaoyang King's expression was particularly grave.

As she drank the immortal tea, her eyes were filled with worry, "Master Shouzhe, have you heard about the situation at the Immortal No. 3 Base? Do you have any good strategies?"

"I'm somewhat aware, but the situation arose suddenly, and I haven't had time to think it through." Wang Shouzhe replied honestly.

"Then please take a moment to consider it." The Chaoyang King looked at Wang Shouzhe with eyes full of expectation.

Over the years, she had lived with the Wang's Clan and had witnessed Wang Shouzhe's methods many times. She greatly admired this young master and always felt that nothing could stump him.

This time, perhaps he might have a solution.

"…"

Wang Shouzhe was speechless.

He's far away and doesn't know the real situation. What can he come up with, even if he thinks about it?

However, the Chaoyang King is a respected elder, and he understands her concerns. So, after a brief consideration, he said, "Regarding the specific battle situation, I'm afraid I can't do much. Fortunately, Princess Suiyun, the Immortal Emperor, and the Immortal Sovereign have already arrived on the eastern front, so there shouldn't be any issues with on-site command."

"Besides, I heard that Fugui and Mengyu have also gone to the eastern front. But don't get your hopes up too high; such a lopsided battle can't be solved with clever tricks."

As the Chaoyang King's expression grew more solemn, Wang Shouzhe analyzed, "The eastern front's situation can't be changed for now, but we can work on the strategy."

"The Nether Fiend Demon God's territory borders the Demon No. 2 Defense Base, and there are several small countries' border bases adjacent to it, including our Great Gan's defense area." Wang Shouzhe suggested, "We can launch operations against the Nether Fiend Demon God from these bordering defense areas, at least to divert some of his forces and attention."

"We can also advance the second phase of our Spring Thunder Operation, targeting the rear of the Nether Fiend Demon God's territory with harassment tactics~"

The Chaoyang King's expression relaxed slightly, "Indeed, this can somewhat divert the Nether Fiend Demon God's attention, but it might still be difficult to change the plight of the eastern front."

"The pressure on the eastern front comes not only from the Nether Fiend Demon God but also from the Yincha Demon God. If we can separate the two demon gods, it would greatly ease the pressure on the eastern front." Wang Shouzhe added, "If there's a chance to sow discord between the two demon gods, it could alleviate the pressure on the eastern front."

Based on the current intelligence, the Yincha Demon God doesn't seem very smart, so this plan might have some feasibility.

"Shouzhe makes a good point." The Chaoyang King's eyes lit up.

"This is just an attempt. After all, we don't know what benefits the Nether Fiend Demon God promised the Yincha Demon God, so the outcome is uncertain." Wang Shouzhe pondered for a moment and added, "Besides, I recently contacted King of the South Yuntai An, and his strength is recovering quickly~~ Now is a good time to stir up trouble."

"How could I forget that Yuntai An is still around!" The Chaoyang King was instantly invigorated, "If he causes a commotion now, it will surely give the Nether Fiend Demon God a headache."

"In that case, let's proceed with all three plans." Wang Shouzhe chuckled, "To ignite Yuntai An's fighting spirit, I'll ask Luomiao to write a letter, and I'll find a way to send it to Yuntai An."

"Master Shouzhe, you truly have unparalleled strategies, coming up with three plans in the blink of an eye." The Chaoyang King was filled with emotion, then changed the subject, "However, this time, I'm here to bid farewell to you. Now that our Immortal Dynasty's defense base is in crisis, it's time for me to contribute."

"The residual poison in Your Highness's body has been mostly removed, but your foundation is still weak. Please be cautious in battle and avoid reckless actions." Wang Shouzhe thought for a moment, then summoned the Immortal Sword Niyue and handed it to the Chaoyang King, "Just in case, I'll lend you this immortal sword."

"An immortal sword?" The Chaoyang King was shocked, unable to help but smile, "It seems the Wang's Clan has gained a lot from the mysterious relic discovered earlier~ There are only three immortal artifacts in the entire Immortal Dynasty! I never thought I, Yuangang, would one day wield an immortal artifact in battle."

Wang Shouzhe's willingness to lend her an immortal sword was already a surprise, but before she could finish speaking, Wang Shouzhe handed her two more items.

"Here is a [True Immortal Strike] and a [Holy Emperor's Protection] to ensure Your Highness's safety in critical moments."

The Chaoyang King was dumbfounded.

The True Immortal Strike is already a top-notch consumable treasure, but Wang Shouzhe even has the Holy Emperor's Protection? The shield within is sealed by the Holy Emperor himself, and even a True Immortal can't break it in a short time.

"Shouzhe, your righteousness!"

She struggled to find words, finally managing to say something.

She was deeply shocked, not expecting the Wang's Clan to have such a profound foundation.

"It's not about righteousness." Wang Shouzhe smiled, "Your Highness has fought for humanity all your life. What does it matter if I contribute some resources? But please don't be too straightforward on the battlefield. Don't reveal the immortal sword immediately. Some things should be hidden, and at a critical moment, you might be able to slay a demon king or something."

"Hahaha, Shouzhe, I find that even a gentleman like you has a cunning side~" The Chaoyang King was in high spirits, "With your support, if I don't bring back a demon king's head, I'd be letting you down."

"Your Highness should prioritize your safety. On a large battlefield, no matter how brave an individual is, they can't decide the outcome."

"I understand. Ah, it's a pity I was born too early. If I were three thousand years younger, I might have pursued you."

"…"

Wang Shouzhe was speechless.

What's with your Yuanshi lineage and this penchant for older women chasing younger men?

...

The turmoil on the eastern front also reached the Demon Dynasty.

In the Demon Emperor's Palace.

Under the luxurious fire crystal chandelier, the Demon Emperor looked at the third prince, Shentu Jingming, with a complex expression, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.

"Ancestor, why are you looking at me like that?" The third prince felt uneasy under his gaze and quickly swore, "I really had nothing to do with the Nether Fiend Young Master's death."

"Hmph!" The Demon Emperor sneered, "If it really were you, then you've truly made something of yourself. Even if it costs me my old bones, I'd cover for you."

The third prince's expression turned inexplicable, "Then why did you summon me so urgently? I had an appointment with Ruobing to practice swordsmanship."

He's been in a good mood lately because Ruobing, after training elsewhere for a while, came to the Red Moon Demon Capital. This made him feel invigorated, as if he were on a high, wanting to stick to Ruobing every hour of the day.

Seeing his useless demeanor, the Demon Emperor's face twitched, barely restraining the urge to hit him, "I called you here to have you go to the Demon No. 2 Base to oversee things, to prevent some people from acting recklessly. Although I don't have concrete evidence, based on the information I have, this is likely the work of the Demon Sovereign."

"The Demon No. 2 Base has always been the territory of the True Demon Hall, right?" The third prince was bewildered, "What am I supposed to oversee? Will they even listen to me?"

"Fool, you're going there as my representative!" The Demon Emperor wanted to slap some sense into this blockhead, "As long as I'm the Demon Emperor, they have to give you face."

"If you suspect the Demon Sovereign, why don't you go yourself?"

"You little brat, you usually seem smart, but you can't even think of this?" The Demon Emperor was furious, "If I go to the Demon No. 2 Base now, wouldn't that be confronting the Demon Sovereign head-on, making the conflict public? Only you can warn them, restrain them from acting recklessly, without making the conflict too obvious, leaving room for maneuver."

"I understand now." The third prince suddenly realized, becoming spirited, "I'm the heir of our Red Moon Demon Court. In such a major event, I must oversee it."

"Who told you you're the heir?" The Demon Emperor snorted, "If your older brothers weren't even more unreliable, would I have sent you?"

Thinking of this, the Demon Emperor was also troubled. Among the four True Immortals and True Demons of the human race, three have cultivated excellent heirs, but he has raised a bunch of fools, each more troublesome than the last.

He doesn't expect them to be as outstanding as Wang Fugui, but if even one of them were half as capable, he'd be satisfied.

As he was troubled, a sweet little girl's voice came from outside the hall, "Ancestor Grandpa, I've come to see you."

With those words, a little girl of five or six years old crossed the threshold with short legs, running towards the Demon Emperor.

This little girl, dressed in a beautiful pink princess dress, looked like a carved jade doll, very endearing.

Despite being only five or six years old, she already exuded a bit of transcendent aura and spiritual charm. Her steps were light and graceful, as if walking on the wind, and even though she hadn't started cultivating, she already showed signs of being extraordinary.

"Oh, my precious little darling is here." The Demon Emperor, seeing her, was immediately in a good mood, smiling broadly as he walked up to her and picked her up, showing great kindness and affection.

This little girl was the Demon Dynasty's little princess, born a few years ago amidst a celestial phenomenon. Though still young, she was already smart and adorable, deeply loved by the Demon Emperor.

The Demon Emperor even granted her the privilege of visiting the Demon Emperor's Palace at any time, waiting for her to grow a bit older to officially confer her as the Demon Dynasty's sole princess.

With his precious little darling in his arms, the Demon Emperor felt even more disdain for Shentu Jingming, unable to resist scolding, "What are you still doing here? Hurry up and prepare for your mission!"

The third prince felt neglected and unhappy.

He glanced at the little girl in the Demon Emperor's arms, then suddenly had a mischievous idea, "By the way, Ancestor, do you think that Wang Fugui from the Immortal Dynasty will go to the eastern front? Since I'm going to the outer region, I might as well greet my future brother-in-law."

The Demon Emperor's expression changed, but before he could speak, the little princess in his arms burst into tears, "I hate it, I hate Wang Fugui! I don't want to marry him!"

What was so good about that damned Wang Fugui? Why, why should she marry him?!

She absolutely refused!

Seeing her like this, the Demon Emperor was overwhelmed, hurriedly trying to comfort her.

The third prince, seeing this, couldn't help but feel a bit schadenfreude.

Heh heh! Old man, now you see the power of this prince? Only Ruobing can disdain this prince.

The Demon Emperor, catching a glimpse of his expression, was instantly furious, unceremoniously slapping him out of the Demon Emperor's Palace.

"You little rascal, get lost."

...

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