Chapter 1579: Recall

Feng Xian’s arrival was not only known to Ye Chen and Hong Chen Xue, but to many others as well. Their killing swords trembled in response.

Ye Chen stood there, his eyes blind, yet seemingly seeing Feng Xian's grotesque smile, an image etched deep into his soul.

“Withdraw the Ren Huang intelligence network and all operations in the ancient cities,” Ye Chen said with authority, his tone commanding. “All members of my Tian Ting who are outside must return immediately.”

“Is this urgency because you’re afraid Feng Xian will cause trouble?” Hong Chen Xue asked tentatively, glancing at Ye Chen beside her.

“I know her methods all too well,” Ye Chen replied coldly. “She understands me, just as I understand her.”

“But without business, our Tian Ting’s supply of source stones will be cut off,” Hong Chen Xue frowned. “We’ll end up depleting our reserves.”

“We can’t worry about that now. If she uses the demon clan’s power, our Tian Ting cultivators outside will suffer heavy losses, including the Ren Huang intelligence network and all our ancient city operations.”

“Furthermore, no one is to leave the sect without my orders.”

“Understood.” Hong Chen Xue didn’t hesitate and turned to leave, trusting Ye Chen unconditionally, just as she had in the past.

The Holy Lord’s orders were quickly relayed, summoning back the cultivators who were away.

However, Ye Chen might not have realized that over a dozen figures from Tian Ting had slipped out secretly using teleportation portals.

Leading them was Chu Ling Yu, followed by the Da Chu Five Kings and the imperial descendants, all elite experts of Tian Ting.

In Xi Mo, Feng Xian was protected by Ling Shan, making her untouchable, but outside of it, Da Chu Tian Ting would settle the blood debts.

This private action was unknown to both Ye Chen and Hong Chen Xue.

Meanwhile, blood overflowed from Ye Chen’s mouth as the dispersed deathly aura surged again, enveloping him and eroding his life force.

This time, the immortal fire behaved itself and didn’t cause any more trouble for the women, instead flying off as a streak of golden light toward Yu Nu Peak.

Shangguan Yu Er and the others followed, feeling a bit guilty—they shouldn’t have teased Ye Chen earlier; hunger only harmed his health.

Soon, the aroma of food filled Yu Nu Peak. As a special patient, Ye Chen received extra care and was fed until he was full.

After the meal, Ye Chen sat under the old tree again, closing his eyes.

The women kept watch nearby, not disturbing him. Though they didn’t know what he was thinking, it must be related to Tian Ting.

Outside, the demon clan’s army continued their bombardment without pause.

They hammered away for a full day without breaking Tian Ting’s barrier, leaving everyone exhausted and with grim expressions.

Waves of demon clan members delivered source stones to maintain the assault.

But the ultimate emperor weapon had an enormous appetite, devouring an entire source stone mountain with each strike, consuming resources at an alarming rate.

Not only were the surrounding cultivators swallowing hard, but even the demon clan ancestors felt the pain—it was all money going up in smoke.

“The demon clan is just throwing money around, using source stones to power an emperor weapon,” someone grumbled. “I’ve never seen so much wealth in my life.”

“Tian Ting is even more extravagant, withstanding a full day and night of emperor weapon attacks. They’re burning through mountains of source stones too.”

“Fighting to this extent is unheard of.”

As discussions buzzed, the sound of vomiting blood echoed—it was the demon clan ancestor, spitting blood, whether from anger or injury, his quasi-emperor aura fading to a weak state as his power waned.

The demon emperors and others fared no better, vomiting profusely, with groups collapsing on the ground, their faces pale.

“Ancestor, we can’t continue,” a demon clan divine general said to the demon clan ancestor. “If we keep going, it’ll damage our clan’s foundation.”

“Do I need you to tell me that?” the demon clan ancestor snorted coldly, his expression ferocious, eyes bloodshot with rage, as if ready to kill.

In this battle, the demon clan had lost all face. They had deployed their emperor weapon and still failed to breach Tian Ting’s barrier. As the ancestor of this generation, he had shamed their forebears.

“There’s no need for the demon clan grandfather to be so angry. This junior can help resolve your troubles.” An ethereal female voice rang out, echoing in the demon clan ancestor’s ear.

The demon clan ancestor furrowed his brow and glanced toward the northwest, spotting a figure in black robes amid the crowd.

It was a woman with an absolutely stunning appearance, her phoenix eyes clear and bright like water, her lips curved in a teasing, playful smile.

“Feng Xian,” the demon clan ancestor murmured, narrowing his eyes slightly.

In the past, Feng Xian had visited the demon clan and nearly married their crown prince, so he recognized her at once.

“So you’ve achieved nirvana. I truly underestimated you, princess of the phoenix clan,” the demon clan ancestor said flatly.

“You’re too kind, demon clan grandfather. It was all just coincidence.”

“What did you mean earlier about resolving troubles for my demon clan?”

“You’ll see soon enough.” Feng Xian chuckled mysteriously and flicked a strand of divine sense toward him, which swiftly entered the demon clan ancestor’s brow.

The divine sense contained various pieces of intelligence, which the demon clan ancestor absorbed.

Immediately, a cold smile crept across his lips. “No wonder they held out so long—such an extensive network of operations. Da Chu Tian Ting, you all have quite the audacity.”

With that, he abruptly turned and waved his sleeve, retrieving the emperor weapon Zhentian Hu. “All troops, retreat to the immortal mountains.”

The demon emperors and others were surprised but dared not question it.

The demon clan army withdrew like a tidal wave, retreating swiftly.

“Is that it? They’re just stopping?” The surrounding cultivators were stunned.

“The mighty demon clan is backing down without warning! Keep fighting!”

“It’s not your money, so you don’t feel the pain,” someone laughed lightly before turning away. “Time to go—the show’s over.”

With the demon clan retreating, the spectators saw no reason to linger and began leaving one by one, casting a final glance at Da Chu Tian Ting.

Today had been an eye-opener: hundreds of thousands of demon clan troops, their ancestor in person, even bringing an ultimate emperor weapon—and still, they returned empty-handed.

If word of this spread across the stars, few would believe it.

The vast landscape, now scarred and desolate, felt much emptier with the demon clan’s army and the onlookers gone.

In Tian Ting, Hong Chen Xue arrived at Yu Nu Peak and stood under the old tree, speaking softly, “As you predicted, the demon clan has withdrawn.”

“How many of those outside have returned?” Ye Chen opened his eyes, his voice weak and hoarse.

“Under the Tian Ting Holy Lord’s orders, nearly all have been recalled.”

“In the future, Tian Ting will be at a severe disadvantage.” Ye Chen slowly rose, the immortal fire manifesting beneath his feet and turning into a cloud.

He flew out of Yu Nu Peak, heading straight for the Tian Xu Forbidden Zone.

This was his third visit to Tian Xu, but he found Di Mie present while Tian Zhu was absent.

“This is still a forbidden zone, you know. You keep dropping by like it’s a neighbor’s house—it’s embarrassing for us,” Di Mie said, stroking his beard.

“Tian Xu Heavenly King has gone to Da Chu. Could the senior please tell me the exact time of Da Chu’s return?” Ye Chen bowed respectfully, his tone humble.

“I don’t know either.” Di Mie shook his head helplessly. “But you probably won’t last until that day arrives.”

“I’ve already come to terms with that.” Ye Chen smiled faintly.

“Go on, what brings you here this time? Is there something you need?”

“Yes.” Ye Chen took a deep breath and looked at Di Mie hopefully. “Soon, Tian Ting will face a great calamity. When that day comes, could the senior allow us to take refuge here until Da Chu returns? That would be enough.”

“The five million cultivators are too many, and your karma and consequences would disrupt this place’s order,” Di Mie replied slowly. “Even if I let you in, you could stay for at most nine days—that’s the limit. Even the Heavenly King couldn’t change that.”

“Nine days.” Ye Chen frowned; the time was too short.

“Tian Xu has its own mission. If something goes wrong here, it’s more terrifying than a demon invasion.”

“Mission?” Ye Chen asked tentatively, looking at Di Mie.

“You don’t need to know, and you’re not qualified to know.” Di Mie smiled. “From ancient times, only great emperors have that right. It’s a forbidden taboo, the ultimate one.”