Ash Ink chuckled softly. That brat Li Xuanxiao seemed to have some kind of obsession with slaying demons and eradicating monsters.
Others would avoid it if they could, and if they absolutely couldn't avoid it, they would show great reluctance. Who would actively seek it out?
He, on the other hand, was more than happy, wishing he could slay demons and eradicate monsters nonstop.
It is truly the fortune of the Dayu Dynasty to have such a person!
"But, Lord Ash Ink, aren't you only at the Pseudo-Origin Realm? You are also no match for those Origin Realm Demon Venerables!"
Ash Ink's lips curved slightly: "I might truly not be their match, but who told you I'm still Pseudo-Origin?"
As soon as the words fell, a vast and Xuan True Essence surged out, clearly having reached the True Origin Realm!
"This... when did you..."
Yin Jinghui was stunned, finding it hard to believe.
Ash Ink snorted with a slight look of smugness on his face.
After he introduced Li Xuanxiao and Ming Yanxia during their previous meeting,
He had pestered Ming Yanxia relentlessly until the latter, unable to bear the annoyance, finally allowed him to peruse an Origin Realm Cultivation Technique.
Perhaps it was due to luck, or perhaps the accumulation of experience.
In short, Ash Ink actually managed to gain entry into this Origin Realm Cultivation Technique in a short period!
His Realm also advanced directly from Pseudo-Origin to the first layer of the Origin Realm!
This caused Ming Yanxia, who had been calmly sipping tea on the side, to spit his drink out immediately.
"Did you pick up some experience from hanging around Li Xuanxiao? How are you this monstrous too?"
Ash Ink smiled but said nothing, hiding his merit and fame deep within.
But inwardly, he was ecstatic!
Ah~ Is this the feeling of showing off in front of others? It is truly damn satisfying!
Picking up experience from hanging around Li Xuanxiao? Heh, that's actually quite possible. I need to maintain a good relationship with this kid!
Next time I'm free, I'll ask him to go fishing together!
Ash Ink's face showed a smile as he withdrew from his memories, his thoughts returning to the present.
Now that he was a True Origin Martial Artist, his lifespan had greatly increased.
He could easily live for another hundred years.
Glancing at the deeply discouraged Yin Jinghui, Ash Ink patted his shoulder: "Kid, you'll have plenty of opportunities to prove yourself in the future. Don't just show off your momentary strength! A true man knows when to bend and when to stretch, not striving for immediate satisfaction."
With that, Ash Ink departed gracefully, leaving Yin Jinghui with a back that seemed stooped yet carried a hint of grandeur.
"Lord Ash Ink, you must return safely..."
Yin Jinghui murmured, then turned to look at the other royal descendants who had come here seeking refuge.
Now, he was the leader of this group, and his responsibility was to protect them well.
"I will also do my utmost to contribute!"
Yin Jinghui took a deep breath.
...
Li Xuanxiao moved rapidly through the air.
He was still some distance from the Royal City, and even with the perfected 'Star-Chasing Moon-Pursuing' at the Transcendent Realm, he couldn't reach the city quickly.
The tragic state of the Pei Prefecture Demon Slaying Division must absolutely not be repeated!
What else can I do now? What remaining power can I utilize?
Li Xuanxiao pondered internally, then suddenly his eyes lit up. He silently took out the message-transmitting jade talisman from his waist.
"Southern Demon, I need your help! Convey my message: instruct the Demon Venerables of the Three Kingdoms to immediately head to the Dayu Royal City for support! If the Dayu falls, the demons from the Myriad Demon Nation will greatly enhance their strength after devouring the numerous Martial Artists of the Dayu!"
"By then, your territories will be their next target! If your Demon Venerables agree to intervene, after the Dayu achieves victory, I promise to give you a portion of the defeated Myriad Demon Nation demons to devour!"
After sending four voice messages, Li Xuanxiao put away the sound transmission jade talisman and focused on rushing forward.
Having the Demon Venerables of the Three Kingdoms provide support was merely a delaying tactic.
If the remaining dozen or so Origin Realm Martial Artists of the Dayu couldn't even handle ten Demon Venerables,
Then even adding the Demon Venerables from the Three Kingdoms, the situation would likely still be dire.
Although the Demon Venerables of the Three Kingdoms were stronger than ordinary Origin Realm Martial Artists, Li Xuanxiao estimated their cultivation to be only around the second or third layer of the Origin Realm.
If they were too strong or too weak, the balance between humans and demons in the Three Kingdoms could never have been maintained for so many years.
His waist vibrated again. Li Xuanxiao poured True Essence into it and brought it to his ear.
"The Demon Venerables demand to devour ten Origin Realm demons, otherwise, there's nothing to discuss!"
Li Xuanxiao cursed inwardly. What a greedy demand!
What did ten Origin Realm Demon Venerables even mean? That was the concept of wartime! In normal times, it was hard to even see one Origin Realm expert.
But this was not the time to dwell on such things. He immediately sent back a voice message agreeing.
"The deal is struck! The Demon Venerables are already rushing to the Royal City!"
Hearing this, Li Xuanxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief, but his speed did not decrease in the slightest; he maintained his top speed.
Rushing at such a high speed for such a long duration consumed a huge amount of True Essence.
He estimated that by the time he reached the Royal City, he would have expended nearly twenty percent of his True Essence.
Li Xuanxiao secretly clicked his tongue. Twenty percent of his True Essence was enough for him to unleash the 'Starfall Chasing Shadow Blade' two or three times!
This was the drawback of high-speed travel: the faster the speed, the higher the fuel consumption... the higher the True Essence consumption.
...
Dayu Royal City, Si Family Residence.
Si Bingwen silently looked up at the ten Origin Realm Martial Venerables outside the barrier.
"Husband, why are you still standing here watching the excitement? What should we do next?"
Lady Si hurried over, slightly pulling up her skirt, her face having lost its former elegance and composure.
Si Bingwen's tone was calm: "To live and die with the city is the destiny of a Martial Artist."
His words silenced Lady Si for a long moment.
The reasoning was sound, but should they just stand there and watch without doing anything?
Lady Si's chest rose and fell, her emotions slightly agitated: "If we die, we die, but what about Miaoyin, that girl? She is still so young, she hasn't even had her coming-of-age ceremony. Can you bear to watch her die at the hands of demons?"
Mentioning his daughter, Si Bingwen's expression softened slightly.
Everyone could speak the reasoning, but when the moment of parting came, only a very small minority could accept it with complete calm.
"We can escape the Dayu!"
Lady Si tried to persuade him: "With your strength as a Mystic Realm Martial Artist, surviving shouldn't be difficult!"
Si Bingwen shook his head: "Even if we escape the Dayu, where can we go? If the Dayu isn't safe, then Tianxuan and Qingluan are the same. Though the world is vast, it is a world in chaos due to demons! Moreover, the Myriad Demon Nation dares to descend upon the Dayu Royal City with such fanfare, indicating they have already made thorough preparations."
"Chances are, the moment we step out of the Dayu, we'll become rations for the demons. Staying here, at worst, we can die with dignity."
Lady Si's eyes reddened, and her expression gradually became dejected.
Yes, with such a grand mobilization, how could they expect the Dayu Martial Artists to escape easily?
The outside world was probably already a perfect trap, waiting for them to walk in.
"Mother, don't be sad. Father is right. If death is unavoidable, then at least we can choose to die with dignity!"
Lady Si turned around when she heard her daughter's voice.
Si Miaoyin was no longer wearing the brightly colored pink Hanfu; instead, she was dressed in the neat uniform of a Demon Slaying Division Martial Artist.
Her usually meticulously styled dark hair was now simply and neatly tied into a ponytail.
The entire person instantly transformed from a charming and lovely playful girl into a heroic and valiant female warrior.
Lady Si was momentarily taken aback.
At this moment, standing before her was not her daughter Si Miaoyin, but the Martial Artist Si Miaoyin!