Chapter 1921 - Soldiers at the City Walls

The forces of the Nine Great Demon Races of the Beyond have attacked the Nine Gates of Heaven together?

Su Yi’s gaze focused. “How’s the situation?”

Li Xiehu said with deep concern, “According to the report I just received, the armies of the Beyond appeared outside the Nine Gates of Heaven at dawn. All nine have lit their beacons and called for reinforcements. The demons have clearly launched an all-out, full-force offensive!

“But I’m still not clear on the details. I’m doing my utmost to gather more information.”

Li Xiehu was the garrison master of the Sixth Gate of Heaven. After the Immortal Peach Banquet, he followed Su Yi back to the Academy of Eternal Night to help him rebuild it.

The report he’d received was undoubtedly accurate.

“It won’t be long until the Path of Divinity appears. Why would the demons of the Beyond choose to launch an all-out offensive on the Immortal Realm now of all times?” Su Yi didn’t quite get it.

He’d only just said this when Li Xiehuu slipped a secret talisman from his sleeves. It was flashing to indicate that another message had arrived.

After reading its contents, Li Xiehu’s expression filled with shock and fury. “Sovereign Venerate, the Sixth Gate of Heaven has fallen. Spies colluded with the demons of the Beyond to open the barrier protecting the gate!”

Su Yi’s expression instantly darkened.

Not even one day has passed, but the Sixth Gate of Heaven has fallen already?

Ultimately, this is because of those traitors and spies. If not for them, the Sixth Gate of Heaven’s barrier would have been enough to stave off even Demon Sovereigns!

When the leaves turn color, you know that autumn has arrived. Does this mean that spies have infiltrated the Immortal Realm’s Nine Gates of Heaven ever since the Age of Fallen Immortals?

He recalled his experiences at the Seventh Gate of Heaven. There, Garrison Master Shen Qingshi similarly colluded with the demons of the Beyond. In the end, Su Yi flew into a rage and cleansed the Seventh Gate of Heaven in blood, killing until severed heads rolled across the ground.

Now, when he learned that the Sixth Gate of Heaven had fallen, Su Yi realized that their enemies had long since infiltrated the experts overseeing the other eight gates, too!

“What should we do, Sovereign Venerate?” Immortal Queen Liu Yun asked, fraught with worry.

During the Age of Fallen Immortals, the forces of the beyond invaded the Immortal Realm en masse, killing and plundering and causing an incalculable storm of bloodshed!

Back then, all forty-nine provinces of the Immortal Realm were in chaos, and the fires of war lit up the skies for days on end. Countless factions fell, and countless innocents lost their lives.

Now, the demons of the Beyond had invaded once more. This catastrophe was sure to sweep through the entire Immortal Realm, plunging all of its vast territories into yet another storm of destruction and bloodshed!

When the nest was overturned, how could any of the eggs survive intact?

None would escape disaster!

“Don’t panic. During the Age of Fallen Immortals, a cataclysm befell the Immortal Realm. That’s what gave the demons an opportunity to invade,” said Su Yi, his gaze calm and inscrutable. “This time, you’ve got me. I naturally won’t let them act up.”

He looked at Immortal Queen Liu Yun. “Pass on my orders to the world. The forces of the Immortal Realm are to work together to defend the Nine Gates of Heaven and slaughter the invaders.

“Those who go bravely into battle against our enemies shall be rewarded!

“Those who seize the opportunity to loot and plunder will be executed as soon as we’ve stopped the invasion. I’ll see to it that none shall escape retribution!

“Those who shrink back in battle and watch from the sidelines shall be punished severely!

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

“And those who collude with the demons of the Beyond shall be executed along with their entire families, no exceptions!”

Liu Yun and Li Xiehu’s spirits soared. No one else had the prestige to command the entire world, but the Sovereign Venerate was different. He was once the greatest expert in the Immortal Realm, the Eternal Night Immortal Sovereign. Now, in this lifetime, he was the famous Sovereign Venerate Su!

No one else in the Immortal Realm could watch his prestige and influence. So long as he gave the orders, countless experts would heed his call!

Besides, the demons’ invasion was a threat to everyone in the Immortal Realm. None would escape misfortune. When the time came, anyone with a functioning brain would act in accordance with Sovereign Venerate Su’s orders.

“Liu Yun, inform the Sword-Bearing Ape, the Red Dragon Dao Monarch, and the Sword Fanatic. Have them lead the forces of the Academy of Eternal Night to gather further information. Report everything you learn directly to me,” said Su Yi. He passed Immortal Queen Liu Yun a talisman.

“What about me, Master?” Lin Feng couldn’t help but ask.

“Rest assured,” said Su Yi. “The grand battle has only just begun. The time will come for you to act once we’ve figured out their troop’s movements. Right, lend me the Sky-Covering Boat.”

“Of course!” Lin Feng immediately nodded and handed the boat over.

“Li Xiehu, come with me to the Seventh Gate of Heaven.”

Li Xiehu was the garrison master of the Sixth Gate of Heaven. The Sixth Gate of Heaven had already fallen, but some of Li Xiehu’s subordinates were obviously still alive and capable of sending him information.

And information was what Su Yi needed most right now.

As for why they were going to the Seventh Gate of Heaven, not the Sixth? It was simple: the Seventh Gate of Heaven bordered the White Reed Province, and it was the closest to the Academy of Eternal Night.

That aside, it hadn’t been long since Su Yi had cleansed the Seventh Gate of Heaven in blood, wiping out all of its spies and double agents. Thus, all of its current defenders were loyal. For instance, its garrison master, Pei Hongjing, was from Bluecliff Academy. With Pei Hongjing and the others there, the Seventh Gate of Heaven’s barrier shouldn’t fall to their enemies.

But Su Yi was still worried. The demons had launched an all-out offensive on the Immortal Realm, so it seemed likely that they’d send their Demon Sovereigns into battle.

The Seventh Gate of Heaven’s barrier wouldn’t last long against experts of that level!

“Got it!” Li Xiehu straightforwardly agreed.

Shortly after, Su Yi and Li Xiehu boarded the Sky-Covering Boat and set off, heading straight for the Seventh Gate of Heaven. They traveled pay and night without rest.

At the same time, Immortal Queen Liu Yun took action. In accordance with Su Yi’s orders, she issued a series of commands. The forces of the House of Little Joys spread his proclamations throughout the Immoral Realm.

......

As the night receded, the light of dawn illuminated the towering, ancient walls of the Seventh Gate of Heaven.

Kaboom!

The barrier condensed out of the Laws of the Immortal Dao’s natural order was under attack. It shook beneath this terrifying onslaught, and it seemed it might break at any moment!

The walls towered into the clouds. Garrison Master Pei Hongjing, Madam Xiangyun, Xie Gu, and several other Immortal Kings were stationed there, their expressions unsightly.

The forces of the Beyond had attacked out of nowhere just last night. Their armies marched upon the walls, numbering in the hundreds of thousands!

They were like an endless tide, and a full ten Demon Sovereigns led the charge. They were attacking the Seventh Gate of Heaven with all their might.

Fortunately, at a critical juncture, Garrison Maser Pei Hongjing used the Stele of Heaven’s Will to control the power of the natural order and create an impassable barrier, keeping their enemies at bay. Still, the battle had shaken everyone in the Seventh Gate of Heaven, and the experts stationed there were ill at ease. Clouds of anxiety hung in the air.

Last night, many of them deserted! Garrison Master Pei Hongjing intervened personally, but he couldn’t stop them.

Everyone understood why the deserters had fled. The demons’ armies were far too enormous. Ten Demon Sovereigns were leading the charge, while the Seventh Gate of Heaven was protected by mere Immortal Kings. How could they possibly hold it?

Despair, panic, and terror permeated the Seventh Gate of Heaven.

By now, most of the city’s defenders had fled, leaving only a few thousand people.

“Daoist Brother, if things go on like this, the barrier will break!” Madam Xiang Yun said with grave concern. “Are you certain your request for reinforcements reached our allies?”

Pei Hongjing nodded. “I’m certain that so long as Sovereign Venerate Su learns what has happened, he’ll rush to our aid!"

Xie Gu sighed. “But all of the Nine Gates of Heaven have been invaded. There’s no guarantee that Sovereign Venerate Su will come here. Moreover, the moment the barrier breaks, those of us left here will be no match for that demon scum!”

“This...” Pei Hongjing’s lips twitched. In the end, he said, “Protecting the Seventh Gate of Heaven is our responsibility. Even if the worst comes to pass, we ought to die in battle. We absolutely cannot shrink back!”

The crowd fell silent. All of their hearts were as heavy as could be.

This battle had come far too unexpectedly. None of them had anticipated that the demons would attack in such numbers. This left them no time to prepare.

Boom!

Outside the walls, the barrier shook violently beneath the terrifying flurry of attacks.

Seven Demon Sovereigns were attacking at once! All of them struck with monstrous momentum, wielding terrifying treasures and pouring everything they had into destroying the barrier.

Further in the distance, the army of one hundred thousand demons swept toward them like a tidal wave. The sheer scale of the invaders’ forces was enough to make one give in to despair.

Suddenly, a Demon Sovereign’s icy voice boomed like thunder, resounding throughout the firmament. “There’s still time to surrender. Refuse, and, when the barrier breaks, we’ll kill everyone here and hang your head from the walls for all to see!”

He had a head of long, blood-red hair, with fair skin and dark robes. His eyes were crimson, and the terrifying aura emanating from him was comparable to the Great Martial experts of the Immortal Realm!

His unbridled, tyrannical arrogance left Pei Hongjing and the others’ expressions all the more unsightly.

Suddenly, Pei Hongjing took a deep breath, gnashed his teeth, and said, “Pass on my orders! Tell our fellows stationed throughout the city that anyone who wants to leave should do so immediately! When the barrier breaks, it’ll be too late!”

His voice was full of undisguisable grief, indignation, and frustration, and his words stirred these emotions in the crowd.

No matter how unwilling they were, they had no choice but to accept the brutal reality. When the barrier broke, everyone in the Seventh Gate of Heaven would die. The gap between them and their enemies was far too enormous!

“Hurry!” Pei Hongjing bellowed, urging them on.

Madam Xiangyun said bitterly, “Daoist Brother, there’s no need for further urging. Turn around and have a look; those afraid to die have already fled.”

Pei Hongjing whipped around. The garrison’s defenders had only numbered in the thousands to begin with, but now, more than half were scampering away like mad!

Pei Hongjing instantly felt stifled, so angry that he felt a chill in his hands and feet, overwhelmed with grief and fury.

The world... really has changed! Prior to the Age of Fallen Immortals, the defenders of the Seventh Gate of Heaven took pride in their fearlessness in the face of death. They thought it disgraceful to flee from battle!

How could something so unseemly have happened back then?