The war between the demon race and the human race had only ended a few years ago. When the forbidden zone in the desolate north appeared, people all believed that peace between the humans and the demons would last for many years. After all, the desolate north served as a natural barrier between the two sides. Even if either wanted to start a war, it was absolutely impossible to carry it out.

But no one had expected that the forbidden zone in the desolate north would dissipate so quickly. How long had it been, and it was already almost gone.

Yun Jianyue looked at Chen Chao with a complicated gaze. He knew very well what it meant for the desolate north’s forbidden zone to open. The demon race and the human race had never been harmonious neighbors; great wars were always bound to happen.

But this time, since Chen Chao had personally come to seek him out and speak of this matter, it was likely not so simple.

Chen Chao looked at Yun Jianyue and said seriously, “I told you before, Great Liang absolutely does not intend to keep on passively defending. We must march north, completely eradicate the demon race, and take back the thirty thousand miles of the desolate north.”

Yun Jianyue said, “Although you have now subdued more than half of the foreign lands, to think about gathering their strength is still a fool’s dream.”

To fight the demon race, the foreign cultivators had no interest. To recover thirty thousand miles of the desolate north, they were even less interested.

Unless it reached the point where they had no choice but to act, would those cultivators reluctantly join the war. But when that happened, it would surely mean the Great Wall of the desolate north had already been breached and the human race was on the brink of peril.

Chen Chao looked at Yun Jianyue and said, “I’m well aware of all this. What I want you to do is not cause me trouble. This time, the demon race likely won’t launch a full-scale assault, perhaps it will just be probing between both sides in the desolate north. But I want the foreign cultivators to remain quiet.”

Yun Jianyue slightly furrowed his brows.

“Infatuation Daoist Temple is the leader of the foreign lands. You are the temple master. As long as you remain still, the other cultivators in the foreign lands will not act. You should understand what I mean.”

The purpose of Chen Chao’s visit to Yun Jianyue was very clear: to have the Infatuation Daoist Temple maintain neutrality - do not intervene, and do nothing detrimental to Great Liang.

“In truth, what Great Liang protects is not only the common people of Great Liang, but also you cultivators in the foreign lands. So you wouldn’t be helping me, you would be helping yourself.”

Chen Chao rubbed his cheeks, took another sip of tea. The demon race was moving too quickly, catching him off guard. Originally, he had thought there would be several more years. By then, if he could persuade Myriad Heaven Palace and Deercry Monastery, he might just be able to unite the foreign cultivators. Things would not have been as they were now.

Yun Jianyue nodded and did not hesitate before agreeing.

Chen Chao smiled and said, "I knew you would agree, but seeing you so straightforward still makes me happy."

Yun Jianyue looked at Chen Chao, unable to understand why this young man was like this. Clearly, the two of them stood on opposite riverbanks, yet he still seemed to trust him so much.

Yun Jianyue asked, "And the Demon Emperor?"

He suddenly thought of something very important.

The Great Liang Emperor and the Demon Emperor had fought a battle in the desolate north. In the end, both emperors disappeared without a trace. It was very possible that both of them had died. This was not a good outcome for either the human race or the demon race. But the worst outcome would be that one had died while the other still lived.

The Great Liang had the most dealings with the demon race, so their intelligence naturally traveled faster. What Yun Jianyue wanted to know was whether the Demon Emperor was still alive.

Chen Chao looked at Yun Jianyue and said very seriously, "The Demon Emperor is still alive."

Yun Jianyue fell silent, then began drinking his tea.

After a long time, he asked softly, "What about His Majesty?"

This matter was huge. Surely, many in the world wanted to know. When he asked, he was already prepared for Chen Chao not to tell him the truth. But Chen Chao calmly said, "His Majesty’s whereabouts are unknown."

Those words often carried many meanings. But in Yun Jianyue’s ears, at this moment, the meaning was most likely that the Great Liang Emperor had already passed away.

After all, before leaving, the Great Liang Emperor had already fought a great battle with several others, and his state was not good. Moreover, he had also arranged his posthumous affairs. To die at the Demon Emperor’s hands seemed like a very normal outcome.

"The Demon Emperor’s cultivation realm is profound, nearly invincible. His Majesty’s defeat... is also..."

Yun Jianyue sighed, but did not finish speaking. After all, the initial scheme had been orchestrated entirely by the Infatuation Daoist Temple. If the human race were conquered by the demon race because of this, then the Infatuation Daoist Temple would be the sinners of humanity.

Chen Chao looked at Yun Jianyue and said, "It truly is a very troublesome matter."

Yun Jianyue thought for a moment, then asked, "Shall we do it again?"

Do it again?

That meant killing again.

Back then, the three of them had killed the Chief Enforcer. When Yu Xiyi became a great sword immortal, there would be three at the end of Nepenthe. To battle the Demon Emperor again, would they be able to kill him?

Yun Jianyue was pondering this question.

Chen Chao laughed and said, "Do you think the Demon Emperor is like that Chief Enforcer of yours?"

The Chief Enforcer was indeed one of the strongest powerhouses in the world. But compared to the Demon Emperor, the gap was far too great. So back then, the three of them could kill the Chief Enforcer, but it was impossible to kill the Demon Emperor.

"If the Sword Sect's Sect Master emerged from seclusion, then add us?"

Yun Jianyue had barely spoken before shaking his head. Someone like the Sword Sect's Sect Master, a man wholly devoted to the Sword Dao, would not take action.

"The old monk in Deercry Monastery?"

"He has never concerned himself with worldly affairs."

"The Myriad Heaven Palace Lord?"

"He is not much stronger than me."

"The Dean, then?"

"... ..."

"All of them added up together?"

Yun Jianyue spat out a turbid breath.

Chen Chao looked at him and smiled. "The Demon Realm doesn't only have the Demon Emperor. Autumn has probably already broken through by now."

Why had the demons always held the advantage in their wars with the human race? It was not only because demons were inherently stronger than humans, but also because they had more powerhouses.

Chen Chao said softly, "It is a very difficult situation."

Yun Jianyue said nothing.

The Demon Emperor had always been the highest mountain in the world. Over the years, only the Great Liang Emperor had ever come close to him, but now the Great Liang Emperor was gone.

"Even if the Demon Emperor won that battle, it doesn't mean he emerged unscathed. I guess he won't make a move right away. But do you know what I'm afraid of?"

Chen Chao looked at Yun Jianyue, his eyes filled with deep worry.

Yun Jianyue said, "He took another step forward."

Yes. If these young people could advance so quickly, even the Great Liang Emperor had managed to move forward, then why wouldn't someone like the Demon Emperor take a step forward as well?

"That would be truly terrifying."

Yun Jianyue looked at the tea on the table, and for a moment, he worried about the survival of the entire human race.

The peace of the past had seemed ordinary. But now, at this moment, Yun Jianyue suddenly realized that peace could disappear at any time. Only then did he truly feel what Great Liang had done all along to maintain it.

Chen Chao said, "If only I had more time."

A single powerhouse might not be able to affect the entire world. But when that powerhouse was strong enough, things became hard to say.

At the very least, if someone like the Demon Emperor chose to appear on the battlefield, leading a group of great demons and demon lords to forcibly assault the Northern Frontier Great Wall, Chen Chao did not think it could be held.

But if there was more time, Chen Chao might be able to come up with some solutions.

"I'm leaving. I'm going to take a look at the desolate north."

After finishing the tea on the table, Chen Chao stood up and smiled. "You have money, you pay."

After saying that, Chen Chao left without any hesitation.

Yun Jianyue watched his back for a few moments, then also stood up. Just as he was about to pay, the man shook his head. "Daoist, you already paid earlier. How could I take your money again?"

Yun Jianyue smiled and did not insist, instead joking, "Then let's say you treated your Lord Warden Commander to tea."

"Hah?"

The middle-aged man was stunned. For a moment, he was confused. What Lord Warden Commander?

Yun Jianyue pointed at Chen Chao's back and said, "That fellow is called Chen Chao. You definitely know that name."

The moment those words were spoken, the middle-aged man felt as if struck by lightning. He stood frozen on the spot, unable to speak for a long time.

......

......

The Demon Realm had already begun to snow.

When the human world entered autumn, the Demon Realm would step into winter. It had been like this for countless years.

Only, this year's winter was destined to be unusual. No one knew how many demons had already gathered at the edge of the desolate north. One demon army had even already rushed here and begun setting up camp.

The wind and snow struck the tents, making crackling sounds.

At the front of the camp, a tall middle-aged man in armor with a head of azure hair rode a strange beast, slowly patrolling.

By his side stood a man about twenty feet tall, with a pair of horns growing from his head.

The demon armies were very different from the human race. Even when organized for a great battle, they would only appoint a single commander. As for the specific commanders of each army, those were arranged by each tribe themselves.

The azure-haired man was the commander of this demon army.

Under his command, this army was called the Azure Wolf Army. Among the demons, it was not the strongest in combat power, but it was the fastest, most adept at surprise attacks.

And this azure-haired man had long since become a great demon of the Nepenthe Realm. His name was Azuresky. Among the various commanders of the demon race, his rank was not high.

"General, are we really going to attack the city?"

The tall man rumbled, "Our Azure Wolf Army is the least suited for siege warfare."

Azuresky sneered, "Are you a fool? Do you think His Majesty is a fool too?"

The tall man was puzzled.

Azuresky laughed, "Just wait. When the desolate north returns to normal, Great Liang will send men to confront us. By then, all we need to do is kill more of them, let His Majesty see our courage. As for sieging the city, why worry?"

The tall man half-understood.

After all, he was just a vanguard general. He was good at fighting on the battlefield, but for anything else, he was utterly clueless, he only knew how to follow orders.

Azuresky narrowed his eyes and muttered, "What I care about is who will come to test themselves against me."

There were many generals among the human frontier army, and Azuresky had crossed paths with quite a few. But at the moment, he could not think who it might be.

"It's a pity Xiao Hezheng is gone. The newly appointed Great General, who knows how capable he is."

Azuresky laughed, "Forget formations, even in the use of men, he may not be much better than Xiao Hezheng."

After several years, facing the humans again for the first time, Azuresky was looking forward to it.