The Happy Old Man declared, "This is do or die. Those who wish to withdraw may still do so now. However, only those who contribute shall share in the rewards of victory! Should you retreat now, you forfeit any claim to the spoils! I, Happy, stake my life on this!!"

From the void, a figure emerged through the mist. The gathered crowd turned in shock.

"Friends, the Eastern Desolate Demon Territory pledges its assistance in hunting down Lingxu! Whatever the cost may be!"

Wen Yuan clenched his fists, his entire body breaking out in gooseblesh.

The Scarlet Dawn Demon King!!

The Eastern Desolate Demon Territory lay beyond the borders of human civilization, isolated in the eastern wilderness. Long ago, it had been a land of chaos. After the Demon Emperor was slain by Mount Shushan, three supreme treasures were left behind. It was said whoever claimed these treasures would become the new ruler of demonkind. Yet following the Demon Emperor's death, the territory fractured into warring factions.

Eight royal demon clans schemed and fought openly for the inheritance. That was until the rise of the Scarlet Dawn Demon King - the first ruler since the Demon Emperor to reunite the Eastern Desolate Demon Territory. However, fifty thousand years ago, after battling Mount Shushan's former sect leader at the Soul-Burying Sea, he suffered grave injuries and retreated into seclusion. Only now had he reappeared.

Yet the Mount Shushan sect leader hadn't escaped unscathed either. The Scarlet Dawn Demon King had damaged his divine consciousness, planting a seed within his Dao heart that eventually gave birth to the Sky-Devouring Demon Lord. The old sect leader ultimately sacrificed his life to perish together with the demonic entity.

The assembly exchanged uneasy glances. Allying with a demon king from the Eastern Desolate Demon Territory? The notion seemed absurd.

"What... do you want in return? Happy, what have you offered?" asked the Star Palace's master.

Before Happy could respond, the Scarlet Dawn Demon King interjected, "No bargains. I seek only Mount Shushan's downfall and offer my strength to achieve it!"

The Happy Old Man rose to his feet. "The storm approaches, friends! Don your rain cloaks and bamboo hats!!"

The Ascendant Emperor was first to stand in agreement, followed by the Star Palace's master, then the Ink Pool Sect's leader. A Western sage chanted "Amitabha."

Wen Yuan studied the crowd before fixing his gaze on the Scarlet Dawn Demon King, his expression conflicted. Finally, he spat through gritted teeth, "Scarlet Dawn, you murdered my elder brother. I swear I'll skin you alive and pick your bones clean someday!"

"I'll be waiting."

The storm approaches. Don your rain cloaks and bamboo hats!!

"..........."

"Senior brother, senior brother..."

"Hmm?"

"Senior brother, what's wrong lately? You keep spacing out," Feng Liuli asked.

Li Xuanxiao snapped back to attention. "It's nothing, just... just..."

"Just what?"

"Just that there's been nothing happening recently."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"After being constantly busy, suddenly having free time feels... unfamiliar," Li Xuanxiao murmured softly.

Lately, he'd been feeling remarkably at ease. Yes, remarkably at ease. Minor affairs occupied Mount Shushan, while the outside world offered nothing requiring his attention. Plans to deal with the Xuan Yin Cult were progressing as scheduled. Everything proceeded according to plan - no surprises.

Yet this absence of surprises unsettled Li Xuanxiao. He'd grown accustomed to unexpected developments.

After leaving Silver Sword Peak, Li Xuanxiao habitually wandered over to Menial Peak. He spotted the old janitor canoodling with the cafeteria lady in a grove. Rumor had it she was pregnant now? Tsk~

Li Xuanxiao departed Menial Peak, stepping onto his flying sword. In the next instant, he vanished.

Senior Sister Su Wan passed by. Shortly after her departure, another figure stealthily trailed after her - Jiang Luoshui.

Only after some time did Li Xuanxiao reappear, continuing his cautious patrol. He eventually reached Heaven-reaching Peak, finding his master Lingxu fast asleep. Seeing his master always brought Li Xuanxiao inexplicable comfort. Such were the benefits of overwhelming power.

Li Xuanxiao patted his master's old dog and pocketed the spare keys. Strolling along Heaven-reaching Peak, a refreshing breeze caressed his face as disciples occasionally glided past in the distance.

Proceeding to the archives, Li Xuanxiao used his master's key to unlock the back entrance. With practiced ease, he located the most recent reports amidst countless documents, reviewing Zhongzhou's current status. Nothing major had occurred;

regional dispatches reported no abnormalities. Peaceful times~

After a while, Li Xuanxiao left the archives and returned to Silver Sword Peak. He covertly checked on Third Senior Sister Lin Wanqing - safe and sound. Along the way, he encountered Second Senior Brother, exchanging greetings and assisting with minor tasks before finally retiring to his thatched hut to compose himself.

He inspected Jia Sidao and Zhang Haoran's conditions. Good, no issues! Only then did Li Xuanxiao allow himself to relax slightly. Unfortunately, his knowledge of regions beyond Zhongzhou remained limited. Prevention was all he could manage. Mount Shushan didn't involve itself in affairs outside Zhongzhou, and the vast distances made intervention impractical anyway.

Regardless, he needed to accelerate preparations - both the Mount Shushan Evacuation Plan and the Xuan Yin Cult's destruction.

Just then, a messenger delivered a letter. Li Xuanxiao opened it to find correspondence from Di Nü Feng. Concerned that her limited intellect might expose their connection, he'd instructed her to send blank paper when needing to contact him.

"............"

"Li Xuanxiao, what do we do now?"

In a secluded valley, Li Xuanxiao reunited with his loyal Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon. Di Nü Feng wore an ornate robe that only reached mid-thigh, her slender, pale legs faintly visible beneath. Her head lolled to one side with an air of utter despondency.

Previously, the deputy cult leader had called her dim-witted. That if not for his management, the Tian Sha Hall would have collapsed under her leadership. At the time, Di Nü Feng had taken it as an insult. Now she wondered if there'd been truth to it.

Between words, she continued stuffing her face with snacks. "Tian Sha Hall is in complete chaos now. I can't trust anyone anymore - not even the deputy leader I grew up with. I don't even know if he's actually a man or woman~" Her voice quavered with genuine hurt before continuing, "I'll never trust anyone again. Now there's only you."

She lifted her head, fluttering her beautiful eyes at Li Xuanxiao. "You wouldn't deceive me, would you?"

"I could never bring myself to deceive a woman!" Li Xuanxiao declared with utmost sincerity.

Li Xuanxiao: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Di Nü Feng: (｡◝‿◜｡)

Li Xuanxiao had anticipated this development long ago. His silence had been deliberate - waiting until Di Nü Feng sought his help, ensuring she'd view him as trustworthy and dependable.